My Daily Supplement Routine

Listed in the order I take them in.

Daily Aminos from MD Logic Health

Amino acids help with protein synthesis (important as we age) and energy. My good friend, Liz Wolfe, developed these aminos specifically for women 35+ and I trust her — and the formulation — completely.

Oliveda I70 The Beauty Molecule

This is packed with antioxidants to help prevent signs of aging and to help with inflammation, which I’ve really struggled with since having my second baby. Today was the first time I’ve run postpartum without intense joint pain and this is the only thing I’ve changed in the last few weeks!!

Seed Probiotics

I’ve taken these for years! Although there is some new research that shows that short-term use of probiotics is better than long-term so I may stop taking them once I run out. We’ll see. (Use code TERI for 15% off your first month. Read my Seed review here.

Sertraline

I had horrible postpartum depression and anxiety with my first baby. I feel so much better this go-around (I made the choice to stay on my medication during pregnancy as well) and I’m so grateful for this medication. It changed my life.

Perelel Daily Iron Ease

I take this both AM and PM. Use code TERILYN20 for 20% off. I’ve had chronically low iron for years and years (which my InsideTracker bloodwork and monthly bloodwork at my OBGYN during pregnancy showed). My body seems to absorb this particular iron very well because my iron has actually been in the ideal range for the first time EVER since I started this brand.

Sunflower Lecithin from Legendairy Milk

To help prevent clogged ducts while breastfeeding, which I’m very prone to. (More of my breastfeeding essentials here.)

Nutrafol Hair Growth Supplement

Not 100% convinced it’s helping since I’m still losing hair like crazy postpartum but my hair doesn’t feel as thin as last time, so I think I’m losing less hair and my hairline seems to be maintaining rather than receding!

NOW Foods Vitamin D3 + MK-7

My bloodwork has always shown I’m low in Vitamin D so I pop this daily.

Coffee Flavored Protein Powder from Arbonne

I don’t follow a high protein diet (or track macros) but I often am rushing between working out, getting ready, breastfeeding, working and appointments so I have a protein shake most days to make sure I’m getting some protein in the mornings.

I’ve tried dozens (literally dozens) of protein powders over the years (I used to get a ton sent to e during my running/health blogging days) and this is still the one I go back to. I like the Meal Replacement version texture best, but I don’t actually use it as a meal replacement. I LOVE the coffee flavor, and linked the vanilla I use in smoothies. I love that they don’t use stevia or monk fruit sweeteners. Use code ARBONNE10 for 10% off.

Arbonne Greens Powder

I’ve also tried lots of greens powders but like the taste of these best. I’m not convinced they help with anything groundbreaking, but I view them kind of as a multivitamin. A little insurance for some vitamins and minerals and I like the taste, so why not.

LMNT Electrolytes

The best ever and the only thing that quenches my thirst. Read my LMNT review here.

Magnesium Citrate from Natural Vitality Calm

I take this at bedtime to help things move along the next morning. Ahem.

Perelel Mom Multi Support Pack

I like this brand and like this little pack has multiple supplements that are especially beneficial for postpartum moms. (More of my postpartum must-haves here.) Use code TERILYN20 for 20% off.

The post My Daily Supplement Routine appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.

I first got hooked on Daily Harvest when I was training for the Boston Marathon and working 80 hours a week. During that time, I was fried and didn’t always feel like meal prepping to have healthy lunch options. And oftentimes, I was eating two breakfasts since I was so hungry after a mid-week 10 miler. Meal delivery services sounded great in theory, but I’m a snob about my food being both healthy AND tasty, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I LOVED Daily Harvest.

These days, I’m not running like I used to, but my weeks are just as busy (maybe more?) as a working mom of two. I’m usually really good about chopping veggies and cooking things for the week but that doesn’t always happen, especially because I’m nursing my newborn and running a business! This is why I love Daily Harvest so much. It makes healthy meals SO simple when I have a busy day. The Daily Harvest smoothies are our #1 favorite item. We’re smoothie lovers in our house (and sometimes they’re the easiest way I can get fruits and veggies in my 3-year-old).

Sure, I can definitely make my own smoothies, but the convenience of having smoothies prepped for me is a game-changer. Not only does it save me time, but it also ensures that I’m getting ingredients in my diet that I might not get otherwise. Daily Harvest’s smoothie menu has so many unique combinations (are you really going to buy the ingredients for a Passion Fruit + Greens smoothie at your grocery store?) that we love trying. While I still like to cook dinners, breakfast (and sometimes lunch) is so much simpler with a few Daily Harvest smoothies a week.

Originally, this post was sponsored by Daily Harvest, but I wanted to update and re-share it now that I’ve been buying Daily Harvest on my own dime for my family for a few years. It’s become an essential in our household, and I hope this review answers all of your questions! Let’s jump in.

(BTW, how cute is baby Thomas?)

Daily Harvest Smoothie Review after using it for 10 years

So, what is Daily Harvest?

Daily Harvest is a meal delivery service that makes it easy to eat more fruits and vegetables every day. Everything is shipped to your door, completely frozen and ready to eat with just a few minutes of prep. Everything comes packed with dry ice in a large box (it sits at the bottom of the packaging). I do have to note that over the last 10 years, the packaging has changed, and now they’ll sometimes arrive defrosted but rarely. Customer service is always good to refund.

Is Daily Harvest actually good for you?

All of their items are gluten free, dairy-free, plant-based and 95% of their ingredients are organic. They never use gums, fillers, preservatives or artificial anything. And you can also filter your options to meet other requirements like vegan, keto, low-carb, etc.

Is Daily Harvest a subscription?

Yes. You can choose a plan of 9, 14, or 24 items that come weekly or monthly for your first Daily Harvest box, and then anywhere between 6-26 items per box following that initial box. Daily Harvest is extremely flexible though. You can skip deliveries whenever you want, add or remove items, and change box sizes. Their app makes it super easy to manage and ensure you don’t get anything you don’t want!

How does Daily Harvest work?

You pick out your food from all of their collections online, choosing how many items you want to get in your order (9, 12, or 24 items) and how often you want them (weekly, monthly). They ship frozen (packed with lots of dry ice) directly to your door. Just pop them in the freezer until you’re ready to make them.

You can change each delivery and even skip weeks, which is nice for when you want variety or things come up in life. Since they’re shipped frozen, you can keep them for a WHILE. This video shows an unboxing and what the smoothies are like.

How many calories are in Daily Harvest Smoothies?

They really vary; smoothies can range from 100-600+ calories. So, if you are trying to lose weight and are using Daily Harvest as a tool to do so, pay attention to that. They also have varying amounts of protein.

How much does Daily Harvest cost?

Each item is between $5.99-11.99 each. And there are certain things in life that I’ll pay a little more for, for convenience’s sake. Yes, it may seem expensive, but so is your time. Especially when it comes to getting healthy foods in my diet while taking care of two little ones.

But really, when you compare it to eating out, it’s definitely cheaper. Most smoothies in my town cost $8-$10. And if you live in a bigger city, you’re likely paying even more than that. You’re also getting them brought straight to your door, which makes it EASY as a busy mom.

Daily Harvest Smoothies

I first tried the Daily Harvest smoothies years ago when I was living in Charlotte. And I remember being completely shocked by just how good they were. I didn’t have them again until I started ordering them during marathon training, and I had the same reaction then that I did the first go-around: They are SO FREAKING GOOD. And I consider myself pretty adept at making a good smoothie!

I usually just make up my smoothies as I go, but there must really be something to measuring your ingredients or having a specific recipe. Shocking. (I do have a few tried and true smoothie recipes!)

With Daily Harvest, you just take the cup of fruits and veggies, fill it to the top with the recommended liquid noted on the container (water, coconut water, almond milk, etc.) and pour it into the blender. Blend, pour it back into the cup, and you’re done. We’re talking like 60 seconds.

I typically add protein powder and Wink Well Collagen to mine. Most of the smoothies are not naturally high protein, so keep that in mind. And if you add a protein powder, you’ll need to add more liquid.

My husband also loves these smoothies. Tommy typically just grabs a protein bar as he runs out the door to work so this is a great way to get some fruits and veggies in him to start his day. And let me be clear – Tommy definitely doesn’t crave healthy food the way I do. So if he didn’t like a smoothie, he’d tell me. He loves the Mint Cacao smoothie, which has banana, spinach, cacao, cashew, chlorella, and peppermint in it. It tastes so fresh.

The most impressive thing about Daily Harvest Smoothies is that our 3 year old loves them! Thomas is a very picky eater, so getting fruits and veggies in his diet can be a challenge. Thankfully he’ll always drink a Daily Harvest smoothie! One of Thomas’ favorite flavors is Banana + Almond–– which contains banana, parsnip, almond, dark chocolate, cashew, and flaxseed; SO good and has 15 grams of protein! Don’t let the parsnip scare you! It gives it great texture and filling power. He also loves the Strawberry Cashew smoothie, which is one of my favorites too. He likes to eat the little frozen squares off the top, which is frozen coconut milk, I believe.

Our favorite flavors

We placed an order a few weeks ago, so I’ll share what we got.

Mint + Cacao

The Mint + Cacao smoothie tastes like mint chocolate chip. It’s made with bananas, spinach, cacao nibs, cashew butter, chlorella powder, vanilla bean powder, and peppermint extract.

Strawberry + Cashew

We LOVE the Strawberry + Cashew flavor. It tastes like strawberries and cream and is made with strawberries, strawberry puree, water, dates (organic dates, organic coconut flour), carrots, cashew butter, almond powder, and coconut cream.

Strawberry + Peach

Another favorite in our house is the Strawberry + Peach flavor, especially in the summer. It tastes like you’d expect: fruity and bright, like sorbet. This one is made with strawberries, bananas, peaches (organic peaches, ascorbic acid, & citric acid), raspberries, gluten-free whole grain oats, flax seeds, and goji berries.

Tart Cherry + Raspberry

Finally (but not really because we like SO many of them), we like the Tart Cherry + Raspberry flavor. It’s such a fresh berry flavor and has a brightness kind of like sorbet. It’s made with cauliflower rice, tart cherries, mission figs, raspberries, and blueberries.

What else can you order from Daily Harvest?

While I’ve tried a ton of the items from Daily Harvest, the only think that WOWs me is the smoothies. The texture of the flatbreads and harvest bowls isn’t my favorite, and I think the Bites are too expensive for what they are. I do like their soups, but the packaging isn’t great. So the smoothies are the only thing we order these days. I’ll share the rest of their menu options below.

Harvest Bowls

Harvest Bowls have decent flavor and cook in about 5 minutes, but I always felt like the texture was icky. It all became mush, even if I cooked them in a skillet instead of the microwave.

Bites

These are a little bit like my homemade energy balls, but they’re really expensive for what they are. They’re a combo of superfood and sweetness rolled into a ball. They’re all gluten-free. I much prefer to make my own energy balls.

Daily Harvest Soups

I’ve loved all the soups I’ve tried! Lentil + Cremini is a favorite. I just wish the packaging was different. The bowls were so flimsy that I always felt like they would disintegrate in my hand.

Forager Bowls

The only one I’ve tried is the Blackberry + Majik; I wasn’t a fan, but Thomas was! You have to remember 6+ hours in advance to prepare it, so it can soak in the fridge overnight.

Flatbreads

These make a great lunch option if you work from home since you have to factor in time for preheating the oven and baking, but they only take 20-25 minutes in the oven(Or use an air fryer).

My favorite so far is the Kale + Sweet Potato. It has sweet potato, red cabbage, kale, cauliflower, spinach and coriander. I tried the Kabocha + Sage and it was fine, but I wouldn’t order it again. I will say, they are not protein heavy so I really like to add an egg or leftover grilled chicken on top. They have SO much flavor, they just need a little protein if you are like me :). Again, they’re decent, but I don’t LOVE them.

Mylk

I haven’t tried their Mylk yet.

Scoops

Dairy-free, plant-based ice cream is always a treat for me. None of their ingredient lists are complicated – just clean, simple food. Again, just not worth the price since it was all rock hard and not super flavorful. I have other non-dairy ice cream I like better.

Bottom line: is Daily Harvest worth it, and would I pay for it myself?

For the smoothies, yes. For everything else, no.

I’ve partnered with Daily Harvest twice in the past, and both times have received free items to try, but I’ve been buying my own smoothies for years. I wouldn’t spend my own money on other items.

If you want to try Daily Harvest for yourself, use this link and promo code TERI to get up to $65 off your first box.

The post Daily Harvest Smoothie Review: Are they worth the cost? appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.

When I was breastfeeding my first son, I was SO thirsty and struggling with supply issues. So, one of my friends sent me a pack of LMNT Electrolytes to try. At the time, I had been putting Nuun tablets in my water whenever I remembered. I’d use Nuun for all of my marathon training and even used it during the Boston Marathon.

The Best Electrolytes for Breastfeeding

As a runner, I knew electrolytes were important. However, I never felt like Nuun was making a huge difference, and I definitely didn’t notice an improvement in my supply or my thirst. But that first LMNT packet made such a difference. I immediately felt like my thirst was finally quenched (cliche to say but true). I ended up breastfeeding for two years, so it’s safe to say supply improved!

So, I fell in love and put LMNT on subscription soon after. So, I stopped feeling thirsty all day (which was honestly shocking because I was the person who was thirsty no matter how much water I drank). I even noticed an uptick in my supply. Also, I wish I’d discovered LMNT sooner because I know my years of marathon training would have looked and felt different!

Now I’m breastfeeding my second baby and to my surprise, I have an oversupply. I know that an oversupply is not only because I’m regularly taking LMNT. But proper hydration does contribute to adequate supply, so I have to believe it’s helping. It certainly isn’t hurting and I don’t feel chronically thirsty like I did at this stage with my first.

Use this link to get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any drink mix purchase, and get a free box when you order 3.

I went down the rabbit hole about taking LMNT during my first breastfeeding journey and if it was safe, so I wanted to share what I learned. Hopefully it helps answer any questions you may have too! 

Let’s jump in!

You can watch the below video for more details or just keep reading!

Electrolytes for Breastfeeding

The short answer: LMNT.

The longer answer is below.

First, are electrolytes important for breastfeeding?

First, let’s focus on your baby’s needs. Yes, babies need electrolytes. They get electrolytes  through breast milk (or formula – if you’re using formula, make sure it has electrolytes in it!). Your sodium intake directly connects to the amount of electrolytes the baby gets.  

In fact, in the very early stages of breastfeeding when your milk comes in as colostrum, the sodium concentration is elevated and this helps the baby’s immune system. There’s actually research that suggests that a child’s health could be negatively impacted with inadequate breast milk electrolytes.

Sodium is also correlated with cognitive function as your baby grows. It can even help with better motor function, memory, and IQ! Read this study on sodium and premature babies. So interesting. Your salt status is also connected to milk production volume. This study shows that farmers have been adding sodium to dairy cow’s diets to increase milk production for a while! While there’s not enough research to concretely say this is true on the human front, I feel confident that taking LMNT increased my  supply (with my first, and definitely now with my second).

Unfortunately, because many people believe that restricting sodium helps expecting mothers avoid preeclampsia, lots of moms limit salt both during and after pregnancy.

However this 2018 study found that there’s “no convincing evidence” that salt intake influences hypertension or preeclampsia risk. Additionally, women with preeclampsia are also more likely to have low blood sodium levels compared to others. Low sodium can result in hormonal changes that actually raise blood pressure. So, increasing sodium intake can actually help LOWER blood pressure.

All this to say, since there’s actually evidence that low-sodium diets can negatively affect your health and since we know sodium is important for baby’s growth and development, I did not decrease my salt intake when pregnant or breastfeeding. I actually increased it. I was getting regular bloodwork. Also, I knew my sodium was low – even with LMNT. So, there were no concerns with me continuing with it. However, every pregnancy is different. So, talk to your doctor about your specific situation – your health, your thirst, your bloodwork, everything.

How much sodium do breastfeeding moms need?

The answer is more than you think, especially if you’re a breastfeeding mom. While the FDA recommends 2,300 mg a day (which is about 2.3 grams) for people 14 years and older, to help reduce high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease and deaths, there’s new science that shows that 4-6 grams of sodium a day is actually optimal (granted, this is dependent on diet and lifestyle). And this study actually found that people who consumed lower than 2.5g per day of sodium had higher blood pressure than those who consumed larger amounts. Obviously, talking to your doctor is important since everyone’s health is different, so take this all with a grain of salt (heh) but read LMNTs take on why they recommend so much sodium here.

Since nursing moms are also providing sodium to their babies, more sodium is likely best. Nursing moms may actually find that they need a little more than that to help replace what’s given to their baby.

How much sodium is in LMNT?

LMNT electrolyte drink mix has the optimal ratio of electrolytes – 1000 mg of sodium, 200 mg of potassium, and 60 mg of magnesium –  to support hydration. It has zero sugar, no artificial ingredients or fillers, and no preservatives. Many (most, actually) electrolyte drink mixes are full of sugar; and while sugar can help you absorb sodium and fluids, it’s not essential for hydration. So, LMNT doesn’t include sugar. It doesn’t taste like chemicals or medicine, which I’ve found other similar, salty options too (like Liquid IV).

LMNT is super salty (which I love) but you can add more or less water to your preference if it’s too salty for you. I like a full packet in my 24 oz water bottle, but my nanny uses only half a packet each time she drinks LMNT, and saves the other half for next time. You could also just add more water to your water bottle to help dilute it. 

It’s a small thing, but I appreciate that it’s a powder so I don’t have to wait for a tablet to dissolve, like I did with Nuun.

Other important electrolytes for breastfeeding

Potassium

Potassium is important  because it balances the effects of sodium and helps women maintain healthy blood pressure during pregnancy. Shooting for 3.5–5 grams of potassium per day is a good goal. Pregnant and nursing moms should aim for the higher end of that range. LMNT contains 200 mg of potassium, which won’t get you to that mark alone. So, be sure to prioritize potassium rich foods in your diet, like bananas, avocado, spinach, and kale. 

Magnesium

Magnesium is an important electrolyte at all stages of life, but especially pregnancy and postpartum. Also, magnesium is involved in bone formation and density which makes it important for a baby’s development. 400–600 mg of magnesium daily is a good target, and LMNT contains 60 mg, so it’s important to eat magnesium-rich foods to help keep your magnesium level optimal. I also take this Natural Calm magnesium supplement at night.

How many packs of LMNT should you drink per day?

Everyone’s electrolyte needs will vary so the answer depends on the person, and there’s not a one-size-fits-all answer (especially as a breastfeeding mom). However, LMNT shouldn’t be your sole source of electrolytes each day. Clinical data shows that around 5-7g of sodium, 1-3g of potassium, and 250-500mg of magnesium throughout the day is ideal, and it’s great if those are from various sources (ideally from predominantly whole foods). That equates to 1-2 packets a day depending on your activity level and if you’re exclusively breastfeeding 1 one packet contains 1000 mg of sodium, 200 mg of potassium, and 60 mg of magnesium. (Source) I have 2, sometimes 3, packets a day since I have low sodium, have resumed working out and I’m exclusively breastfeeding.  

LMNT Electrolyte Drink Mix Flavors

There are a lots of LMNT flavors:

• Citrus salt
• Grapefruit
• Orange salt
• Watermelon salt
• Raw unflavored
• Raspberry Salt
• Lemon Habanero
• Mango Chili
• Chocolate Salt

My favorite flavor of LMNT is watermelon or raspberry. Citrus and grapefruit are pretty good too. I do not like the spicy ones unless I’m using them in my favorite virgin margarita. You can also try a few different ones in a variety pack, which you get for free with my referral link. They also have seasonal flavors, like chocolate caramel and chocolate mint in the winter. Note that the chocolate ones are meant to be mixed with HOT water and consumed like a hot cocoa powder inspired drink. I didn’t realize that for about 6 months and was so confused by the chunky texture and thought it was so nasty. Once I tried it hot, it was a game changer and I loved having it after my cold winter runs.

I did not like the raw unflavored but if you have a different recovery drink you like (perhaps a protein shake or something that has carbs and calories) and want to up the electrolytes in it without impacting the flavor, that may be a good option for you.

Ingredients

Each flavor has one or two different ingredients (the natural watermelon flavor has Malic Acid and the orange flavor uses Citric Acid, for example). Here’s the general breakdown for the Citrus Salt packet. Again, each packet has the perfect balance of sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

• Salt (Sodium Chloride)
• Citric Acid
• Magnesium Malate
• Potassium Chloride
• Natural Flavors
• Stevia Leaf Extract 

I typically hate the taste of stevia but it doesn’t bother me in these! You can find a full list of ingredients for each flavor online here.

Pricing / Packages

One time purchase

The most basic way to purchase LMNT is ordering boxes individually. A box of LMNT comes with 30 packets, and it costs $45 per box, which breaks down to $1.50 per packet.

This is a great way to try LMNT the first time to make sure you like it.

Subscribe and save

The other option is to set up your LMNT as a subscription and save money. When you subscribe, each box is $39, making each packet $1.30. Since I use 3-5 packets a day, this is by FAR the most economical option for me.

Free sample pack

After ordering LMNT a few times, I reached out to them to see if they’d be willing to offer a promo to my readers. They were super generous and gave me a shopping link that gets you a FREE sample pack with ANY drink mix order. And to top it off, if you end up buying 3 boxes, you’ll also get a 4th for free! I believe you can use my link with every order – not only the first – to get a free box or sample pack! 

LMNT Electrolytes Pros and Cons

Pros

• Tastes amazing
• Super salty (but can be diluted with more water)
• NO SUGAR! (Great for low carb diets if that’s your jam but that’s NOT my jam.)
• A perfect ratio! Most popular electrolyte drinks contain sugar and unhealthy ingredients, along with low amounts of electrolytes. LMNT has more electrolytes in the ratio that our body needs: 1,000 mg sodium, 200 mg potassium, and 60 mg magnesium.
• Keto friendly for folks following a keto diet
• Paleo friendly for those following a paleo diet
• Simple ingredients
• Comes in a powder form instead of a tablet that has to dissolve
• Free shipping
• No-questions-asked return policy (seriously! They send new boxes and refund immediately. They have amazing customer service.)
• Can be ordered on Amazon – if you’re running low and want to place a quick order, you can do it with Prime shipping.

Cons

• Pricey. There’s no denying that LMNT is pricey, but it’s worth it. Nuun is about $30 for 30 tablets, which is slightly more affordable than LMNT. But LMNT simply works better!

That’s the only con I can think of!

Get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any drink mix order you place through this link.

The post The Best Electrolytes for Breastfeeding & How it Impacted My Supply appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.

When you buy Seed, use this link with promo code TERI to get 15% off your first month of a subscription!

A handful of years ago, I was listening to a Rich Roll podcast about a probiotics company named Seed. I’ve been taking probiotics for years, but have always blindly shopped and brand hopped, never really sure if I was getting a “good” probiotic. After listening to the podcast, I immediately signed up for Seed monthly shipments. What struck me the most is how much research and data they have around their specific probiotic strains, something lacking with other brands.

I feel very confident that Seed is the best probiotic for me and it’s the same one I’ve been taking for 4 years. I’ll go into details about what a probiotic is, why you need one, and why I’m loyal to Seed. The video below gives you a quick overview as well.

Introducing Seed Probiotics Daily Synbiotic

Seed’s probiotic is called the Daily Synbiotic. The science is complex, but essentially, most of the bacteria we carry around actually helps keep our bodies healthy. We’ve been told so much that we need to sanitize, bleach, and get germs off of everything. And yes, it’s wise to wash your hands and clean surfaces.

But, there are also many good strains of bacteria. Good bacteria help foster a healthy gut, microbiome, digestive system and immune system. And that’s where probiotics come into play.

Seed Probiotics Review

The Daily Synbiotic is a 2-in-1 capsule. It contains probiotic strains that deliver benefits to the gastrointestinal system which influences overall health.

• The inner capsule contains 24 clinically-studied strains of probiotics. These are strains not found in yogurt, most supplements or fermented foods and beverages. These strains are selected for strain-specific benefits.
• The outer capsule is a Prebiotic. It contains punicalagins, which comes from Indian pomegranate. The gut transforms the prebiotic outer capsule into powerful “metabolites” for the human body. The outer capsule contains the inner probiotic capsule.

What are metabolites? Basically, metabolites are like bacterial poop: the end product of what they metabolize. As bacteria do what they need to sustain themselves (e.g. their version of “eating”) they take bigger compounds and turn them into smaller compounds. So metabolites are simply small molecules and naturally formed as substances are broken down.

The Seed Probiotics Daily Synbiotic formula was developed by the Seed team in conjunction with scientists and doctors who are experts in the field of probiotics. Their Chief Scientist is Dr Gregor Reid, Ph.D., a world-renowned specialist in beneficial microbes. He serves as the Chair of the United Nations World Health Organization Expert Panel on Probiotics. And he led the group that authored the globally accepted definition of ‘probiotics’. Additionally, Seed has a Scientific Advisory Board, made up of male and female MDs and Ph.Ds. All of that to say, these are experts with serious backgrounds.

If you really want to dive deep into probiotics and the science behind them, read about Seed’s approach here.

What Is A Synbiotic?

A Synbiotic is defined as a “combination of prebiotics and probiotics that together, promote gastrointestinal health by improving survival and adherence of live microbial dietary supplements”. In simpler terms, the idea behind synbiotics is that adding prebiotics to a probiotic supplement can help ensure the digestion-friendly microorganisms arrive in the gut alive and well.

2-in-1 Capsule Technology

The 2-in-1 probiotic capsule technology is resistant to stomach acid, digestive enzymes, and bile salts. In addition, it has a Chlorophyllin exterior to protect the strains from light. And the powder prebiotic suspension helps protect it from oxygen, moisture, and heat (all of which bacteria are sensitive to).

Can you believe how much science goes into all of this? So fascinating!

What are the benefits of Seed Daily Synbiotic?

Note: all of this information comes directly from Seed. I shared my personal experience below!

Gastrointestinal Health

• Supports digestive health
• Helps maintain regularity, ease bloating, and can alleviate occasional constipation
• Improves stool hydration, making bowel movements easier

Gut Barrier Integrity

• Helps maintain gut health barrier function and integrity

Gut Immune Function

• Supports healthy gut immune function and ‘cross-talk’ between immune and intestinal cells
• Increases production of short-chain fatty acids

Cardiovascular Health

• Promotes heart health
• Helps maintain blood cholesterol levels already in the normal range
• Supports healthy intestinal recycling of cholesterol and bile

Micronutrient Synthesis

• Supports folate (vitamin B9) production
• Supports intestinal synthesis of vitamin B12

Seed probiotics also support skin health.

The Science Behind Seed Daily Synbiotic

Seed Daily Synbiotic Formulation

Seed ds-01 daily synbiotic is made up of different probiotic blends to support different functions in the body:

• Digestive Health / Gastrointestinal Immunity / Gut Barrier Integrity Probiotic Blend – 37.0 Billion AFU
• Dermatological Health Probiotic Blend – 3.3 Billion AFU
• Cardiovascular Health Probiotic Blend – 5.25 Billion AFU
• Micronutrient Synthesis Probiotic Blend – 8.05 Billion AFU
• Microbiota-Accessible Prebiotic [MAP] Blend – 400 mg

The other ingredients included are:

• Acid-Resistant Vegan Outer (chlorophyllin) and Inner Capsules (hypromellose, fermented gellan gum, water)
• Organic rice fiber 
• Organic rice extract blend

Seed is a vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free probiotic and doesn’t contain soy, binders, or preservatives. It’s also free of the 14 classes of allergens identified by the European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies.

Note: A few years ago (May 2020), they made a minor update to the prebiotic blend in the Daily Synbiotic. Scandinavian chaga and pine bark were removed to allow for a higher dose of the primary prebiotic, punicalagin. I didn’t notice a difference at all in how my gut felt after that change.

My Honest Review of the Seed’s Daily Synbiotic

Like I mentioned in the intro, I’ve tried dozens and dozens of probiotics over the years. I first started taking probiotics about 7 years ago but never exactly knew how to buy a “good” one. So I’d go to the probiotics section at Whole Foods and buy whatever sounded like it had the “most” strains. Or, whatever was expensive. Or whatever happened to be on sale. Not exactly the most scientific approach, ha!

After learning more about Seed, I switched and haven’t gone back to any others. In fact, I’ve taken Seed probiotics for about 4 years now. I take two capsules a day on an empty stomach, so usually right as I wake up. So when someone asked, “is Seed Probiotic actually good?” I always say yes. It has been SO good, in my experience. 

Here’s what I noticed after taking the Seed Probiotics Daily Synbiotic

Regular bowel movements and more quality BMs

Sorry, perhaps TMI but poop is super important y’all! And as someone who has struggled with digestive issues for over 20 years, this is a HUGE win in my book. Over time, things have improved even more. Seed can’t treat or cure any disease, but it’s certainly helped my irritable bowel, which is amazing.

Where’s what I noticed when I stopped taking them

After about a year, I stopped taking Seed because we moved (long story, but in short, we moved out of our old house and moved into our mountain condo while our new house was being finished) and I wasn’t sure where to ship my subscription since timing was so up in the air so I just cancelled it.

After just a couple weeks without it, I noticed that I had more gas, was more constipated and when I was able to go to the bathroom, I had loose stools. So, I quickly signed back up for Seed and just dealt with all the address woes. Within a few weeks, things were back to normal.

Seed Probiotics Daily Synbiotic FAQs

How long does Seed take to work?

Most people notice benefits (less bloating or more frequent bowel movements) within about 24-48 hours, since it has localized benefits. Some of the other benefits will take longer to “notice” and you may not notice any changes at all in terms of the benefits for cardiovascular health.

Seed Probiotic Side Effects

While I didn’t experience any negative side effects when I started taking Seed, some people have noted that they had some bloating, increased gas, loose stool, and headaches when they first started taking Seed. Typically, those things resolved after a short period, but it’s worth noting in case you experience the same thing.

How much does Seed cost?

You can only buy Seed probiotics online, but that’s a major perk for me. I like that the probiotics ship to me monthly so I don’t have to think to re-order. And I like their approach to sustainability, where they send refills for a green glass jar rather than entirely new containers each month. All of the packaging is compostable. It’s actually really cool – some of their packaging is made from mushrooms. Oh, and it’s completely shelf stable, so you don’t have to worry about that.

Your initial order comes in a box with with a glass jar to hold your monthly refills. They also include a travel jar, which I love! While your order only includes a one months supply, they are shelf-stable for 18 months at temperatures up to 78 degrees.

The cost is $49.99 a month, which breaks down to about $1.60 a day.

A little pricey, yes, but to me, your gut health far out ways a Starbucks coffee run. Since you purchase Seed as a monthly subscription, it’s also great to note that you can skip a month or cancel altogether at any time. I highly doubt you’ll want to, but if you do, it’s not an issue at all!

Oh, and shipping is free!

And then you just dump the refills into your jar! They come in a 30-day supply.

Where to buy Seed Probiotics

You can only buy Seed from Seed.com. They are only available as a monthly subscription, which provides a 30 day supply each month. The shipping is free, which is a great bonus.

Is Seed Probiotics FDA approved?

The FDA actually recently authorized an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for DS-01 (the Daily Synbiotic). This is an important milestone because it grants permission to begin clinical trials to investigate the safety and efficacy of a drug, food, or dietary supplement.

Is Seed safe for kids?

Fun fact, Seed actually has a Prebiotic made specifically for kids! The PDS-08® Pediatric Daily Synbiotic for Kids + Teens is great for ages 3-17. Thomas hasn’t tried this yet, so I don’t have a personal experience to share, but if your child struggles with digestive woes and tummy aches, you may want to read into Seed’s Kid’s Prebiotic.

Is Seed pregnancy safe?

Quick note regarding pregnancy and Seed probiotics, since you can see my 24-week bump in the below photos. The Daily Synbiotic is safe to take during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. But they suggest you always check with your doctor before taking anything new, which I will second. It’s ALWAYS best to talk to you doctor before changing anything when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. You’re always better safe that sorry.

Fun company fact: Seed Co-Founders Ara Katz and Raja Dhir were introduced when Ara was pregnant. Her journey through pregnancy and breastfeeding is part of what inspired their vision for Seed.

And as with pregnancy and breastfeeding, Seed is also safe to take with any other medications, whether prescription or over the counter. But it’s always best to check with a doctor if you’re unsure.

You can purchase Seed here! Use promo code TERI to get 15% off your first month!

All opinions are my own and I do receive an affiliate commission if you purchase Seed through my links. Before I was approved an affiliate, I completed an educational course on the science behind their probiotics. Also, I spent my own money buying Seed long before I applied to become an affiliate. Thank you for supporting my blog through the brands I support! 

The post Seed Probiotic Review: What I noticed when I started using it AND stopped using it appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.

If you’re a loyal blog reader, you already know that a healthy lifestyle and clean living is hugely important to me. And household cleaners and products are some of the worst offenders when it comes to harsh ingredients and toxins. And if you are careful about what you put ON your body, you should also care what you’re touching and breathing day to day. That’s where Branch Basics comes in. I became especially been cognizant about using less harsh ingredients while pregnant with my first and second.

And while I’m certainly not perfect when it comes to clean living – I don’t buy all organic food, I highlight my hair, and I’m always on the hunt for the BEST mascara (this Tarte mascara holds the #1 place currently) – I do try to make a conscious effort to switch to better products that we use in our daily life. Progress is better than perfection. (And definitely better than not trying at all!)

Branch Basics Review and how to use it

Over the past few years, I’ve really focused on improving what we use for our household cleaning supplies. In fact, I started using Branch Basics occasionally about a year ago. But have been using it almost exclusively for a few months now. And I’ve also been really happy with it (once I figured out a few things, mainly around scent!). So let’s dive in!

What is Branch Basics?

Branch Basics is a concentrate and multi-purpose cleaner that is plant and mineral based. It removes grease, grime, dust, and dirt, without the harmful chemicals that typical multi-purpose cleaners leave behind. The unique thing about Branch Basics vs. other clean cleaners you’ll find is that you only have to buy ONE product. How? Via their concentrate that you can use for creating almost any type of cleaner.

Concentrate Ingredients

• Purified Water
• Decyl Glucoside
• Organic Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
• Coco-Glucoside
• Sodium Citrate
• Sodium Bicarbonate
• Sodium Phytate

Branch Basics Concentrate is:

• Human Safe
• Plant and mineral based
• Free of harmful preservatives
• Biodegradable
• Not tested on animals
• Non GMO

How Branch Basics Works

The Branch Basics concentrate is simply mixed with water. The exact ratio of concentrate to water varies depending on the type of cleanser you’re making, e.g. laundry detergent vs. counter spray vs. hand soap. In fact, you can add essential oils for scent or leave it as is. This short user guide is helpful.

They provide a guide for how much concentrate to use per “product” that you’re making. So instead of buying a million different products, you only need one bottle of concentrate + water + bottles to hold your mixtures. You can also either buy the spray bottles directly from Branch Basics which are made with measurement lines on them. Or use your own bottles and measure the Branch Basics concentrate and water yourself. Branch Basics offers both plastic and glass bottles. And the glass ones are so pretty, you almost want to clean. (In fact, I do weirdly love wiping the counters down.)

Are typical cleaning products actually toxic?

Yes, many are. Many of the products in our homes are harmful for us. In fact, they even contribute to things like respiratory issues, fertility issues, cancers, immune systems and more. There are so many chemicals in the products that we use everyday, and making the switch to a brand like Branch Basics is such a simple but effective choice for your family’s health.

To evaluate what’s under your sink, Branch Basics recommends thinking through these things:

If there is no ingredient list, toss.

If the bottle says WARNING, CAUTION, or DANGER–– toss.

If Fragrance is listed as an ingredient, toss.

And if it says UNSCENTED or FREE & CLEAR, without an ingredient list to verify, toss. (“Fragrance” will often show up in these!!)

If it contains Synthetic Preservatives, get rid of it. Words to look for: Methylisothiazolinone, Benzisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol.

If it contains Ethoxylated Ingredients, toss.

Branch Basics Starter Kits

There are a few options to get your cleaner cleaning going, outlined below.

Starter Kit + Oxygen Boost

This is the option I started with since I knew I wanted to replace as many cleaners as possible from the get-go. It also comes with the 33 oz concentrate, three empty spray bottles, one Foaming Wash bottle, one Laundry bottle and one Oxygen Boost.

Starter Kit

The basic starter kit has a 33 oz. Concentrate, three empty spray bottles, one Foaming Wash bottle and also one Laundry bottle.

Laundry Kit

The laundry kit comes with a 33 oz. Concentrate, one Laundry bottle and one Oxygen Boost.

Trial Kit

If you’re just trying to see if you think you’ll like Branch Basics, start here. This trial set comes with a Mini Concentrate, which has just enough concentrate to make one full bottle.

What can you use Branch Basics for?

Everything. In short, the concentrate is safe for practically every surface. We’re talking your garage floor, your delicate laundry, sneakers, ovens, driveways, and also even your PETS.

• Shaving
• Produce wash
• Hardwood floors
• Bathing your pets
• Cleaning your jewelry
• Washing cloth diapers
• Cleaning your coffee machine
• Washing your face
• Tubs
• Sinks
• Showers
• Mirrors
• Toilets
• Floors
• Cleaning grout
• Dishes
• Countertops
• Stovetops
• Oven
• Fridge
• Stainless Steel
• Grills
• Cars
• Outdoor furniture
• Bikes
• Driveway
• Laundry

Is Branch Basics a disinfectant?

It is not. In fact, it is not a sanitizer either. Branch basics works to remove germs from surfaces the way soap and water does from your hands.

My favorite ways to use Branch Basics

Laundry Detergent

You know that concentrate that I just mentioned? You can use it as laundry detergent! I loved it for a few months (especially the simplicity of it… just add the correct measurement of water, and voilá, detergent), but after a few months, I noticed that my clothes were feeling stiff and hard. I started to hate how our clothes and towels felt, so I switched to the Force of Nature Detergent Sheets (which I love). 

However, it’s worth noting that Branch Basics might be a great option for you if you are super sensitive to most detergents. Since the ingredients are so clean and simple, it’s a good option to try! If you decide to try Branch Basics for your laundry, just use just 3/4 – 1 capful! And it’s also a small cap!

I don’t love the concentrate as my detergent, however I do love the Oxygen Boost (one of the only other products they sell, other than the concentrate). I add it to the wash whenever I’m washing towels or sheets.

Hand Soap

All you need for this is a foaming hand soap pump. I also like to add various essential oils to it, depending on the season and my mood! But lately, I’ve loved peppermint and lemon! Or, you can buy their hand soap pre-made.

Multi-purpose cleaner

I use the multi-purpose cleaner mixture for my kitchen counters, with lemon essential oil added. For instance, I use it to wipe down my Peloton after sweating all over it, without additional scent added.

I actually have my cleaning crew use Branch Basics spray for our bathrooms when they come deep clean.

Using essential oils

While I was iffy about Branch Basics at first I realized that I liked it a LOT more once I started added essential oils. I am actually really sensitive to scent and hate scented laundry detergent, garbage bags, etc. but I do like the freshness that an essential oil brings to the Branch Basics cleaning products!

The post Branch Basics Review and how to use it appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.

UPDATE: After taking Modere Collagen for about a year, I now take a different form of liquid collagen, the Beauty Fountain from Oliveda. It tastes better than Modere and I like that it includes hydroxytyrosol, which is a highly effective antioxidant. I’ve left my Modere review below in case it’s helpful in your shopping decision.

Chances are you’ve heard the word “collagen” a lot lately. It’s become a popular buzzword in the world of anti-aging, skin, and joint health, but first, what is it? Collagen is a protein in our bodies responsible for making strong bones, muscles, tendons, etc. And when you’re young, your body produces a lot of collagen, which is part of why we feel so agile and youthful in our younger years.

But as we age, our body stops producing as much collagen, which results in our bodies feeling stiffer and less agile and our skin begins to sag and wrinkle and our hair begins to thin. All of the things we complain about as we age, right? But hey, it’s just part of it! (I do miss the days where I didn’t really need to warm up before a workout though!)

Your body starts to decrease collagen production in your 20s and you lose about 1% of your collagen every year, so by age 50 you have nearly 30% less collagen than you did at 20, and almost 50% less collagen by the time you’re 70.

While there are many types of collagen in our bodies, type II is most important for articular cartilage (the connective tissue in our joints). The three major components for healthy joints are type II collagen, hyaluronic acid (essential for skin hydration, tissue maintenance, etc.), and chondroitin sulfate (supports joint flexibility).

The most important type for skin, nail and hair health is Type I collagen. And some studies show that taking collagen supplements for several months can improve skin elasticity, wrinkles and roughness, as well as signs of aging.

So then the question poses itself, “Can you just take more collagen in through your diet?”.

And the answer is…sort of. I’ve taken collagen for years and years and it’s one of those things that I can’t say definitively made a difference since there are so many things that could go into my joint health and my mobility (or lack thereof!), including my exercise routine, genetics, pregnancy, breastfeeding and more. And there’s mixed research when it comes to taking collagen supplements, but I’ve found a lot of comfort in the fact that one of my favorite running cookbooks (Run Fast Eat Slow) recommends collagen since I wholeheartedly trust the authors of that cookbook (Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky). But, most dietitians recommend that if you are going to take collagen, it should come through food sources (like bone broth) for the best results.

All that to say, I love the idea of collagen supplements and I do feel like they can provide some benefits and they certainly can’t hurt as long as you’re getting a high-quality brand. I’ve always taken a powdered form, usually Collagen for Her. But when I learned about Modere and the fact that it’s a liquid, I was intrigued because a liquid form is so convenient. I find that the powder makes things taste funny (and no matter what people say, it does taste funny), so if I use Collagen For Her, I typically put it in a smoothie. But, let’s say I’m not making a smoothie. That’s when I really like Modere as a liquid collagen option.

I’ve been getting a number of questions about Modere on Instagram (where it’s quite trendy), so I ordered some to try it for myself.

(You can read my review of Collagen for Her in this post. Note that while that post was sponsored, this post is NOT.)

In this post I’m going to share how Modere Collagen is different from other collagen on the market, what ingredients it uses, the benefits they claim and the ones I’ve noticed, and my honest thoughts since trying it for a few months.

Let’s jump in.

Modere Collagen Review

Modere is unique in the way they create their collagen. They state that most collagen molecules are naturally very large in our bodies, which makes them very hard to absorb and utilize. That’s why they use a unique science to create a collagen molecule that’s small enough for our bodies to digest called BioCell. I think this is a particularly interesting argument for using a liquid collagen vs. a powdered form. I don’t know enough about the science to really dig into it and evaluate the claims, but it certainly makes sense that it’s not enough to just ingest something. It needs to be absorbed into the body to get the most benefit. Bioavailability of a supplement can be just as important than what’s on a nutrition label.

So, with that goal in mind, Modere created a highly bioavailable liquid form of sternal cartilage that is a matrix of collagen, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin. It is derived from humanely-treated chickens raised without GMOs, antibiotics and hormones on some of the world’s most reputable and regulated farms located in the US and Europe. Their products are manufactured in the United States and it’s actually headquartered in my home state, Utah, in a town where I worked during college. I always have a soft spot for Utah-based companies.

Modere Liquid collagen is a combination of Type II collagen, hyaluronic acid, and a small amount of chondroitin that work together to enhance absorption and utilization. And it works because it mirrors the composition of our body’s own articular cartilage.

Ingredients

The below list is slightly long, but it can be helpful to see everything at a glance since the liquid collagen has more ingredients than powdered forms.What I DON’T like is that all that fruit is NOT organic. More on that below.

• Apple fruit juice concentrate – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from apple (Malus domestica).
• Grape juice concentrate (fruit) – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from grape (Vitis vinifera).
• Liquid BioCell® – Supports joint mobility and lubrication, and skin hydration. Hydrolyzed collagen type II peptides, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid made from chicken cartilage.
• Strawberry fruit juice concentrate – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from strawberry (Fragaria ananassa).
• Mangosteen fruit – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from mangosteen fruit (Garcinia mangostana).
• Cranberry fruit juice concentrate – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from ripe cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon).
• Blueberry fruit juice concentrate- Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium).
• Jujube fruit – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from jujube fruit (Ziziphis jujuba).
• Acai berry extract – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from acai berry (Euterpe oleracea).
• Wolfberry fruit extract – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from wolfberry (aka – goji) fruit (Lycium barbarum).
• Pomegranate fruit juice concentrate – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from pomegranate (Punica granatum).
• Noni fruit – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia).
• Maqui berry – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from macqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis).
• Nopal leaf extract – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica).
• Resveratrol – Supports antioxidant capacity, cardiovascular health and healthy aging. Made from Japanese knotweed root.
• Purified water – This is an absorption agent. Purified by reverse osmosis and deionization.
• Citric acid – Provides acidity regulator to preserve freshness. Made from the fermentation of sugar.
• Fruit and vegetable juice – Provides color. Made from carrot (Daucus carota sativa) and blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium).
• Ascorbic acid – Preserves freshness. Form of vitamin C made by fermentation.
• Pectin – Thickens and stabilizes. Made from citrus peel.
• Potassium sorbate – Preserves freshness. Salt of sorbic acid made from synthetic sources.
• Natural flavors – Provides mixed berry flavor. Made from natural sources.
• Sodium citrate – Preserves freshness. Salt of citric acid made from synthetic sources.
• Xanthan gum – Thickener and stabilizer. Made from fermentation of carbohydrates.
• Rebaudioside A – Sweetener. Made from stevia leaf (Stevia rebaudiana).

Modere Collagen Benefits

It’s important to note that these benefits have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and they list the typical disclaimer on their website, i.e.“This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.” But I have noticed many of these myself as I’ve been taking Modere Collagen. People typically notice a difference between 30-60 days of consistent usage.

Improved joint mobility and lubrication

I would LOVE to see a marked improvement in this since my ankles and knees are SO achy and crunch and pop and I’m not even 40. I plan to the try the Sport Collagen to see if it helps with that.

Reduced joint discomfort

Promotes healthy cartilage and connective tissue

Improved muscle tone

Reduced wrinkles

Increases skin’s collagen content

This helps with visible signs of aging.

Improves skin’s hydration, firmness and elasticity

This is one of my biggest goals and I do feel like my elasticity has improved since taking the Skin collagen regularly.

Reduces hyaluronidase

Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that can make your skin age.

Promotes healthy hair, nails, gums and eyes

Supports cardiovascular health

Boosts vitality

What does that even mean? haha.

Modere Biocell Product Line

Modere makes four different liquid biocell collagen products. All with slightly different goals, as outlined below.

Modere has done studies in controlled clinical environments to show that the body readily recognizes and accepts all types of Liquid BioCell. Their studies actually compared collagen and hyaluronic acid levels in the skin and in the blood of participants at weekly intervals. They saw measured increases in collagen and hyaluronic acid among study participants, indicating that Modere Liquid Biocell collagen is effectively absorbed into the bloodstream and is not broken down in the digestive system the same way as typical collagen proteins. (Source)

All of their liquid collagens should be taken as one tablespoon, twice daily. I typically take one in the morning and one at night.

Liquid BioCell Skin

BioCell Skin, Hair, and Nails contains the Modere BioCell blend and then 18 fruit and vegetable concentrates. It’s essentially superfood juices, which are full of antioxidants. There’s no way to tell just how much of each of the 18 fruits and veggie concentrates are included, however. A study that was completed in 2004 found that these concentrates increased the antioxidants in the blood, which is what improved skin health (reduced skin aging by reducing the damage from free radicals, which speeds up aging).

Liquid BioCell Life

Liquid BioCell Life is pretty similar to the Skin version, but it contains resveratrol, an antioxidant that may play a role in the prevention of chronic diseases, and Wolfberry, which has similar benefits as well. This is the one that I’ve tried and I do like the taste!

Liquid BioCell Pure

Liquid BioCell Pure is simply the BioCell blend of collagen and hyaluronic acid. It does not contain any sugar or calories, so this is a great option if you want to ONLY get the collagen and HA. This is the best option if you’re taking collagen for your skin or joint health.

Liquid BioCell Sport

Liquid BioCell Sport is very similar to the Skin and Life options. It contains BioCell and a variety of fruit and vegetable concentrates, but it also has an amino acid blend of branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, valine) and L-carnitine. These help improve exercise performance and increase muscle strength. None of the other BioCell options contain protein, but this does contain 1 gram. This product is also NSF certified, so athletes can take it since it fuels physical and mental performance.

This is the one I want to try next since my ankles really bother me as I’ve started aging (almost 40) and I’m hoping this will improve some of my joint issues.

My Review of Modere Collagen

Okay now that you know all of the details, let’s get into my personal thoughts.

Pros

Tastes good!

Like I mentioned above, powdered collagen does taste funny, no matter what people say, and the only way not to taste it is to bury it in a smoothie. I cannot take it in coffee. I don’t find that the Modere BioCell Collagen tastes bad at all; in fact, I like it. But, I haven’t tried all the different types they sell (only Skin and Life), so maybe the Pure or Sport is nasty. (If you’ve tried others, let me know!)

Different types of collagen for different goals

I love that there are options. If you prefer to skip on the fruits and veggies, the BioCell Pure is a perfect option. I prefer to have all of the superfoods in my collagen, and I have that option with the Skin or Life Biocell.

Less joint pain

I have noticed that my ankles and wrists (which are VERY prone to a deep ache) don’t hurt as much since regularly taking collagen. They do say it improves joint health. Placebo effect? Maybe. Worth it? Yes.

LONG lashes

My lashes and nails grow so much faster when I’m regularly taking collagen! This took a few months to notice but it definitely is noticeable if you stick with it. When I stopped taking it, I noticed a distinct difference.

Cons

Expensive

It’s VERY expensive collagen, especially considering I feel like I’m paying for juice. Superfood juice, yes, but still juice. They do have referral codes that customers can share with their friends and this link should save you $10. Every bit counts, right?

There ARE a few ways to save however.

• You can join Modere as a Subscribe & Save member (there’s an option at checkout). Once you select that, you get 5-15% off monthly orders and off any a la carte orders. On your second shipment, you’ll receive $20 in product credit and on your third shipment, Modere will MATCH your savings (i.e. if you are at the 10% off tier, your third shipment will be 20% off). You get a text message each month before it ships and it’s super easy to cancel.
• Additionally, each customer receives their own referral code, GIVE $10, get $10 in product credit for future purchases.

Not organic

Considering how many fruits and veggie concentrates are added, I feel like they should be organic, especially since non-organic berries have some of the highest levels of pest control spray.

Bottom Line

Overall, I really like Modere Collagen. I use it a few times per week, when I’m not having a smoothie (I use Collagen for Her with I have smoothies since you can’t taste it) and when I run out of Collagen for Her, I’ll probably switch to this exclusively. I wish Modere’s wasn’t so expensive. But that’s the case with so many things where you’re paying for convenience.

I tried a few other items from Modere when I ordered the BioCell. This may sound weird, but I am truly OBSESSED with the toothpaste. I also tried the TRIM that’s supposed to inhibit fat storage, reduce fat cell formation (help with weight loss), improve muscle tone and restore youthful skin, but no luck with that. It gave me diarrhea (sorry, I know that’s TMI, but how’s that for side effects!).

If you decide to place an order with collagen, below are other things I like as well as a few things I just ordered. One to note is that while they DO have a generous return policy (full refund), it’s kind of a pain. I had to get on the phone with them vs. just process it online. So keep that in mind.

A few other Modere products I love:

Toothpaste – I didn’t know I could be THAT obsessed with toothpaste. My teeth feel like I just had professional cleaning and it’s free of crap that’s in most commercial toothpaste! I love the mouthwash too!

Digestive Enzymes – filled with lots of good things to help with upset stomachs after an occasionally heavy meal.

Phytos – these are powdered greens, fruits and superfoods. I ordered them to see how they compared to Balance of Nature, which I’ve used for 20+ years. I’ll do a full review soon, but in short, I actually like them BETTER, which is did NOT expect.

Sunless tanning foam – I haven’t used a self tanner since middle school and was still scared 25+ years later since it was so streaky and smelled so bad, ha! I was BLOWN away by how easy this is to apply (the mitt is fantastic) and how natural it looks. I’ve gotten so many comments about how tan I am and people ask if I’m hitting the pool a lot. No, no I am not.

I have all of these items and the Skin Collagen on Subscribe & Save so I save money and if I’m not out of anything when it comes time to ship, I just remove whatever I don’t need. (You get texts before your order ships.)

Alright, that’s it! I hope this is helpful. If you have questions, let me know and I’ll do my best to help answer!

The post Modere Collagen Review + how it compares other collagen brands appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.

I don’t love messes, so I try to keep my home neat and tidy (or as neat and tidy as possible with a toddler), and I also try to simplify the rest of my life the best I can. That includes keeping my email inbox organized, deleting photos from my camera roll when there are duplicates, and setting boundaries with social media and my personal life, etc. I feel so much better when things are clean.

I shared my favorite ways to clean up my life below, and I hope it helps you as you kick start your new year. Don’t get overwhelmed – just pick a few that feel feasible!

Let’s jump in, shall we?

24 Ways to Clean Up Your Life in 2024

1. Cleaner Cleaning Supplies

Force of Nature is my absolute favorite cleaning solution. I weirdly love making the cleaning solution (it’s kind of fun!) and feel good about using it when pregnant. And, I don’t mind if Thomas “helps” me clean since it’s completely non-toxic. I also use Branch Basics for a few things around the house, but if I were only going to choose one, go for Force of Nature. (Read my Force of Nature review here + my Branch Basics review here.)

2. Cleaner Skincare

I switched to cleaner skincare (and makeup) when I was introduced to Beautycounter by an Instagram friend. I wasn’t actually looking to switch my products to something non-toxic, but their tinted moisturizer was so good that it sold me! Now, the majority of my skincare is squeaky clean and even the products that aren’t Beautycounter are cleaner options than conventional ones.

Beautycounter is my #1 choice in terms of clean skincare, followed by Colleen Rothschild. Beautycounter is definitely the cleaner of the two with their Never List of over 2,800 questionable ingredients that aren’t allowed in their products.

Read more about what I love about Beautycounter in this blog post review. My Colleen Rothschild review blog post is linked here.

3. Cleaner Makeup

Same story as above! I tried Beautycounter’s tinted moisturizer and the rest was history. I first loved how the products looked on me, and then I learned to appreciate how clean the ingredients were! I now prefer the the Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint over the Beautycounter Dew Skin (read my review of the Super Serum Skin Tint here), but both brands have clean, high performing ingredients.

These days, I don’t use as much Beautycounter makeup as I used to and instead favor ILIA Beauty and Tarte.

I listed my favorite products from ILIA in this blog post review.

My favorite Tarte makeup is listed in this blog post.

You can see my entire makeup routine linked here.

4. Cleaner Bath & Body Products

In terms of clean bath and body products, I love Beautycounter. The ingredients are the best on the market, and I also love how the packaging looks in my shower. I use the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash (in gorgeous packaging). If you aren’t sure if your current hair care is clean, check out this post on the ingredients to avoid in your shampoo.

I have the Beautycounter hand soap and hand lotion in our powder bathroom.

5. Cleaner Floors

The Shark Cordless Vacuum is the best for easy daily vacuuming. It’s compact and the handle can be used as a hand vac. I use this instead of sweeping my kitchen floors.

The Tineco Floor ONE S3 is the best cleaning appliance I’ve ever purchased. It vacuums AND mops hard surfaces at the same time. I use this on my hardwood floors and it makes them spotless. If you have kids who spill food on the floor or track in mud from the outdoors onto you hard surfaces (tile, hard wood, etc), this is essential. Our model is the Tineco Floor ONE S3, but you can choose from options with different bells and whistles.

6. Cleaner Pantry

Pick one section of your pantry that you use the MOST and optimize it!

• I use clear bins rather than baskets so I can see what’s inside.
• I use a plastic lazy susan for oils, vinegars and honey and clear bins for snacks, random flours, etc.
• For frequently-used flours, oats and sugars, I use these storage containers with pop-top lids.
• And I use this Amazon spice holder in one of our pull out drawers so I don’t have to fish through a cabinet.

7. Cleaner Closets

An easy way to feel less cluttered is to regularly clean out your closet. When I’m getting dressed, I always note if there is something I never ever wear or just don’t like anymore and set it aside for the consignment pile. It’s amazing how just removing 1-2 items a week keeps things pared down. This post has more tips clean out your closet.

8. Cleaner Laundry Detergent

I love the Force of Nature laundry sheets and ECOS Liquid Laundry Detergent. And instead of dryer balls, I use wool dryer balls.

9. Cleaner Car

This over the seat purse hook from Amazon was a game-changer for me. So was this small car vacuum and this dust putty. But the real deal was when I bought a membership at our local car wash. My car is SO clean inside and out, and that’s coming from the mom of a 3-year-old.

10. Cleaner Purse

Put these sticky balls from Amazon into all of your purses and thank me later. To keep my bags organized (since I switch them out every so often), I put my most-used purses on purse hooks in my coat closet, and then the rest go into my closet with a shelf purse divider.

11. Cleaner Air

We got an AirDoctor air purifier a few years ago and I’m always SHOCKED by how much nastiness is trapped by this thing. I shared some photos of my most recent filter change in this AirDoctor Review (which also has a promo code).

12. Cleaner Water

AirDoctor also makes water purifiers called AquaTru, so I recently got that too. Mine came last week so I’ll update as soon as I give it a try. We have never used purified water (other than a brief stint with a Primo Water Filter) and I know it’s a much better option!

13. Cleaner diet

I don’t focus on removing things, but more so adding things in. Since being pregnant, I have had a major aversion to any vegetables (except, oddly, raw celery and carrots), so my goal is to have vegetables at two meals each day. I’m also trying to be more consistent with a greens powder (I have a few different brands I like:

• Amazing Grass Greens Blend – a well-known brand that’s been around forever!
• Perelel Greens – this one is tested for pregnancy and breastfeeding safety
• Balance of Nature Daily Veggies – these are capsules if you don’t want to drink your greens
• Equilibria Greens Powder – this is the best tasting!

14. Cleaner Food Storage

I switched all our tupperware from plastic to glass and feel so much better about it! This is the set of glass containers I have.

15. Cleaner Perfume

I’m super sensitive to scents, but I LOVE Dime Beauty perfume. They don’t irritate me at all and smell amazing. Read this blog post for all of my favorite Dime Beauty Perfume scents. I share which scent I like best in that post too.

16. Cleaner mouth

I’m going to work on cursing less this year ;), but I also use Boka hydroxpatite toothpaste instead of fluoride toothpaste because it remineralizes your enamel from within. I also love this Boka tongue scraper.

17. Cleaner Home Scent

If you’re using a home scent air fresher like Glade, switch to Pura Air Fresheners. Not only is it much cleaner, but the scents they make are AMAZING! And you can adjust the Pura strength from your phone.

18. Cleaner diapers

Swap your scented diapers for unscented. We use Coterie diapers and while they’re pricey, we love them. But any unscented option is an improvement!

19. Cleaner Office

Since I work in content creation and receive a lot of PR packages from brands, things tend to really pile up in my office. I got a clothing rack for my office so I could hang anything I needed to take photos in, steam, organize in one place. I also got a this Villa & House 4-door cabinet which has a ton of storage (and it looks nice).

If you can hire an organizing company to help you get started, you won’t regret it. I used Mindful Organizers in Winston Salem, NC.

20. Cleaner Makeup Drawer

My makeup drawer was in serious need of an overhaul and I finally got to it this summer! I shared everything I did and what I used in this blog post on how to organize your makeup.

21. Cleaner Camera Roll

Clean up your camera roll! I take a LOT of photos given my job and use Get Sorted to go through old photos to easily decide what to keep or delete.

22. Cleaner Email Inbox

I took this Digital Clutter course a few years ago online and it totally changed my life in terms of my email inbox. Usually I’ll grab my laptop while I eat breakfast to start to work through my Star Box in my two work inboxes. The Star Box is something I learned in the course…seriously worth every penny. I also unsubscribe from emails each morning using the gmail shortcut to unsubscribe.

23. Cleaner Social Media

It may be time to go through and purge who you’re following on social media. Does it bring you joy to see their posts? Or do you get anxiety, struggle with jealousy, or feel annoyed when you see someone share to Instagram? If unfollowing feels inappropriate (maybe in the case of a family member or friend you see often), put their account on mute. They won’t be able to tell on their end, and you can still go see their content if you search for it (it just won’t show up on your stories or daily timeline).

24. Cleaner Social Life

Learn to set healthy boundaries in 2024. Say no and mean it, and learn how to be okay when it feels uncomfortable!

I hope this post inspired you to clean up a few things! What are you trying to clean up in 2024?

The post 24 Ways to Clean Up Your Life in 2024 appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.

I’ve been really blessed to not experience many issues with my skin during pregnancy, either time. I was worried about the common issue with hormonal acne since I used to have HORRIBLE acne in my mid to late 20s, but the worst I’ve had is an occasional breakout and some dryness. This pregnancy is slightly different from my first because the the weather is drier and colder than it was when I was pregnant with Thomas, so my skin is drier this go round, but still, nothing serious. And I give a LOT of credit to having a good skincare routine in place long before I got pregnant.

Because I’m quite the skincare junkie, and because I’ve talked about my pregnancy a lot on Instagram, I’ve been asked a lot if I changed my skincare routine. I’ve also been asked if I stopped using any products while pregnant, but I’ve kept everything exactly the same except for one or two serums. Since the majority of my skincare is Beautycounter, I know they’ve done rigorous research and testing of ingredients to ensure their products are safe. And they specifically evaluate how they impact vulnerable populations like pregnant or nursing moms.

Skincare during Pregnancy

When I got pregnant with Thomas 4 years ago, my doctor sent me home with a handout of products and ingredients to stop using. I was thankful I didn’t worry about anything I used! (When I got pregnant with baby #2, I knew there were only a few products I’d need to stop using, including a great retinol oil from Colleen Rothschild).

But, I know getting pregnant and getting that handout is how a lot of women first start to learn about some of the potential negative side effects of products they are using. And doing that research may have led you here. So, I hope this post is helpful so you have more information about what to look for in your skincare products and what you may want to ask your doctor. (If you’re looking for safe beauty products, you can see my makeup routine here.)

Is Beautycounter Pregnancy Safe?

Yes. Every single Beautycounter product is screened for 23 health and environmental endpoints, including reproductive toxicity. Not only that, but Beautycounter is famous for their Never List, which is comprised of 2,800 ingredients questionable or harmful chemicals that they never use as ingredients in their products.

This includes the nearly 1,700 chemicals banned or restricted in personal care products by the European Union, plus additional chemicals screened by Beautycounter and found to be of concern. are not allowed in their products. It says a lot of that there are more than 1,000 other ingredients Beautycounter won’t use, considering the EU is pretty stringent. Beautycounter is one of the best clean beauty brands on the market because they are rigorous with testing but the performance is still SO good.

Here’s what Beautycounter has to say:

At Beautycounter, we craft all of our products with safety in mind, especially for those who might be extra vulnerable – like pregnant women and babies. We carefully screen and assess each of our ingredients for 23 distinct, safety endpoints, including reproductive toxicity. That said, as pregnancy affects everyone differently, check with your doctor before beginning the use of any products if pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant.

If you want to do a deep dive on ingredients and their safety during pregnancy, this blog post from To Make a Mommy is very helpful.

The moral of the story is that every pregnancy is different, every doctor is different and every woman’s comfort level with various things in pregnancy is different. And that’s true for everything, not just skincare.

For example, Beautycounter’s Overnight Resurfacing Peel contains glycolic acid and this Beautycounter SOS Spot Treatment contains 2% salicylic acid. I’m comfortable using both of those since I know the rigorous testing that Beautycounter does on the safety of their products, with special consideration for the concentration of ingredients for those who are pregnant.

But, you may not be comfortable using those. And I’m sure there are things you use that I wouldn’t. So again, you have to do what’s right for you! Educate yourself and go with your gut.

Skincare Product Ingredients to Avoid During Pregnancy

The hard thing about pregnancy and data is that it’s hard to do really thorough studies because it’d be an ethical issue to subject certain women to potentially harmful ingredients. That applies to skincare, diet, drinks, everything. For example, some doctors will say a sip of alcohol here and there is fine and others say absolutely don’t touch a drop.

The same applies to skincare and specific ingredients. Some doctors will say certain ingredients are fine, while others take a more conservative approach. However, Beautycounter’s standards INCREDIBLY high, so there’s no guesswork involved. You can feel good about every single product they carry– from body butter to blush and even mascara.

Remember, every pregnancy is different. There may be additional products or ingredients that your doctor tells you to avoid so if you have questions, check with your OBGYN.

Below are ingredients that are typically recommended to be avoided while pregnant, and I’m going to share which Beautycounter products I use instead.

Retin-A, Retinol, and Retinyl Palmitate

All of these are vitamin A derivatives and may lead to birth defects. Most doctors will tell you to stop using those because of the harmful side effects. I used retinol for years before switching to the Overnight Resurfacing Peel came out. It’s a safer alternative to a retinol product with similar results, and it drastically improved my skin texture.

Accutane and Tazorac

Accutane and Tazorac can both cause major birth defects if used while pregnant. Generally doctors will require a pregnancy test before they prescribe Accutane and will often require you to take them throughout your course of Accutane. I believe they do the same for Tazorac too. (I’ve never personally used either.)

Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone is an ingredient used to brighten skin. It’s often used to address melasma or skin spots. While some say it doesn’t have negative impacts, it is known to have a higher absorption rate than other types of ingredients. That means it could eventually make its way into your blood stream and affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about the risk and benefit for your situation. However, Beautycounter’s All Bright C serum is safe for use during pregnancy. My post about the Beautycounter Vitamin C serum goes into detail on its ingredients and benefits.

Chemical Sunscreens

Most conventional sunscreens use a chemical based sun protection like oxybenzone or avobenzone. These may cause hormone disruption and/or interfere with your baby’s nervous system development. (They also damage coral reef and are banned in Hawaii.)

I switched to non-nano zinc oxide mineral sunscreen years ago and haven’t looked back. This post has lots of non-toxic sunscreen options I like. (Beautycounter’s sunscreen even made the cut in a Women’s Health article about safe sunscreens.)

Laser Treatments 

There are LOTS of opinions on this without a clear answer. Definitely talk to your doctor about your situation.

Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acids

Acne during pregnancy is common. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are the most common treatments for acne. But, those ingredients are controversial when used during pregnancy.

If you do use salicylic acid, most doctors will recommend that you use products no stronger than 2%. (All of Beautycounter’s acne products contain 2% or less.) When applied topically, Benzoyl Peroxide is believed to be safe during pregnancy, but some people still have concerns. So check with your doctor regarding your situation on both ingredients.

If you’re struggling with breakouts, be sure to read this post with more tips for clear skin.

Glycolic Acid

This is yet another ingredient that’s highly debated. While it’s only supposed to penetrate to the top layer of skin (i.e. doesn’t absorb into your bloodstream or make it to your baby), some medical professionals advise to stay away out of an abundance of caution.

Note that this is different from hyaluronic acid, which is safe for pregnancy.

My Favorite Pregnancy Skincare Products

Here’s what I currently use.

Morning skincare routine

Cleanser

Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil or Countermatch Foaming Face Wash – I like having a non-glass option to keep in the shower, which is why I sometimes use the Countermatch lotion. Both are hydrating options that don’t leave a heavy film on my face.

Tone/Prep

Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence – this helps balance my skin after cleansing so it’s not too try and helps the products that follow absorb better

Treat

All Bright C Serum – this brightens skin and helps prevent and address melasma, which is common in pregnancy. (Read my review of this Vitamin C Serum here.)

Tripeptide Radiance Serum – this helps tighten and firm skin and improve hydration.

Hydrate

Antioxidant Soft Cream – this day time moisturizer helps prevent fine lines and also provides ample hydration without causing makeup to pill.

Ultra Renewal Eye Cream – the ONLY eye cream I’ve ever liked. Amazing for dark circles, puffiness and fine lines.

Protect

Daily Sheer Defense SPF

Evening Skincare Routine

Cleanser

Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil or Colleen Rothschild Cleansing Balm – I LOVE the cleansing balm but it’s too heavy for daytime for me. So I often use this at night, alternating with the Cleansing Oil. Both are very hydrating! (This post explains why I prefer the Colleen Rothschild Cleansing Balm over the Beautycounter Cleansing Balm.)

Tone/Prep

Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence – same prep step as my morning routine

Treat

Tripeptide Radiance Serum – same prep step as my morning routine

Overnight Resurfacing Peel – I use this 2-3 times a week in place of the Tripeptide Serum to help with skin spots, large pores and fine lines. (Read my review of the Overnight Resurfacing Peel here.)

SOS spot treatment & Charcoal Mask (as needed) – I get occasional breakouts around my nose and use these to dry them up.

Hydrate

Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Night Cream – I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THIS. It’s amazing for dry skin! It’s incredibly thick, but absorbs quickly without a greasy finish. A little goes a long way too, so it lasts forever.

No. 9 Oil – On the nights that I’m not using the peel, I use and love this hydrating oil. It’s silky and not greasy. Beautycounter’s Brightening Oil is another great option but I do find it’s a bit heavier than the Colleen Rothschild one.

I hope this helps you figure out a solid pregnancy skincare routine. As with everything I share on my blog about pregnancy, I’m sharing my personal experience. Talk to your doctor, be your own advocate and go with your gut on any decisions you make throughout your pregnancy.

The post Is Beautycounter Pregnancy Safe? appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.

After chatting with some friends who were really passionate about the air purifiers in their home and doing my own research, I decided to buy an AirDoctor purifier. (Well, first I tried another brand that I don’t think did ANYTHING and was so finicky to use, but I won’t focus on that today and instead focus on the air purifier I do love.)

But first, if you’re reading this post because you’ve never ordered an air purifier and you’re doing some basic research like I did, here are a few reasons why people love them for their homes. In short, they’re great for managing or eliminating indoor air pollutants.

In general, air purifiers are made to:

• Reduce allergies
• Help with asthma and other respiratory issues – specifically in kiddos and women, as they tend to spend more time in the home
• Reduce smell and odors
• Clean air from pet hair and pet dander
• Make calming noises for sleep
• Help kill bacteria
• Removes smoke (from outside or cooking) – my AirDoctor always goes nuts when I’m cooking and people who live in areas with wildfires say they’re a must.

Okay, let’s dive into more details about why I love it.

AirDoctor Purifier Review & Why I Love it as a Mom

About AirDoctor

AirDoctor was invented by Peter Spiegel, who had the original vision of providing of professional air quality at an affordable price. AirDoctor been operating since 2016 and is based out of California and makes high-end, professional air purifiers at attainable prices designed to be used in individual households. They make four different purifiers for different size spaces (I’ll get into the details later in this post).

They have RAVING customer reviews on their website and have been featured on CNN, FoxNews, and The Chicago Tribune. AirDoctor is also praised by Dr. Mark Hyman, the Founder & Director of The UltraWellness Center and the Head of Strategy & Innovation of Cleveland Clinic’s Center.

After I fell in love with AirDoctor 3000, I reached out and asked if they could provide a promo to my readers. They kindly agreed and gave a VERY generous discount.

Where to Buy AirDoctor Purifiers

You can buy their purifiers and filters directly from AirDoctor and AirDoctors also now sold on Amazon.

Use this direct link to get the below discounts on AirDoctor Purifiers:

• $110 off the AD1000
• $110 off the AD2000
• $280 off the AD3000
• $300 off the AD5000

The discount will only work if you use this direct AirDoctor link. When I buy a new unit, I buy through AirDoctor but when I need replacement filters, I buy them from Amazon for convenience.

The machines are pricey but they will last you for YEARS. They also have a 30-day return policy, no questions asked.

Okay, let’s get into the details.

First, What Makes a Good Air Purifier?

Not all air purifiers are made equal. What you want to look for when shopping for a good air purifier is HEPA filtration, an additional carbon filter, and CADR ratings.

1 – HEPA Filter

A HEPA filter (which stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air) is what actually filters the air in your home. The EPA states that a HEPA filter can remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns. AirDoctors have a UltraHEPA® filter which actually removes 99.99% of tested bacteria and viruses down to 0.003 microns. That’s 100x smaller than the HEPA standard!

2 – Carbon Filter

A carbon filter is what removes things like VOC’s, gases, odors, etc. from your home. HEPA filters don’t do this, which is why you want look for an air purifier that has both. AirDoctor has a a dual-action gas and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) filter. The VOC filter works together with the UltraHEPA Filter to remove dangerous ozone, gas, and volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde that can typically cause coughing, wheezing, and irritation in the eyes and throat.

3 – CADR Rating

Lastly, you want to make sure your air-purifier has a CADR rating. This stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate. A CADR rating tells you how much clean air is produced in a specific amount of time. The higher this rating is, the better! AirDoctor’s purifiers have SUPER high CADR ratings:

• AirDoctor 1000: 152
• AirDoctor 2000: 340
• AirDoctor 3000: 340
• AirDoctor 5000: 534

CADR ratings from 120-179 are deemed Very Good, and anything above 240 is considered Excellent (read more about CADR from AirDoctor’s website here). Air changes per house matter because if you’re not moving the air, you’re not cleaning the air. Experts recommend at least 4 air changes per hour for optimal removal of airborne particles. Many air purifiers base their room size coverage on only 1-2 air changes per hour (ACH) so it’s important to check that your air purifier has a high enough CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) to circulate the air in the room at least four times per hour. All of AirDoctor’s purifiers do.

AirDoctor Purifier Pros And Cons

Pros

Removes 99.99% of tested bacteria and viruses down to 0.003 microns

Laboratory testing found that AirDoctor removes 99.99% of tested bacteria and viruses down to 0.003 microns. This is the most impressive thing to me; like I mentioned above, 0.003 microns is 100x smaller than the HEPA standard, which is what most people have in their homes. See the whole report here.

Want to see JUST how effective the AirDoctor is? Check this out.

Removes 99.97% of live SARS-CoV-2 virus from air

AirDoctor removes 99.97% of the live SARS-CoV-2 virus from the air!!! I’m always wiping down surfaces, making sure to wash my hands and keep Thomas’s hands clean, etc. and I appreciate that the AirDoctor takes it a step further to clean the air. I also love that I don’t have to think about it since the machine can run 24/7 and will adapt to the needs in the air. Read more about the test they completed with the AD3000 and the virus here.

Works in large spaces

The smallest AirDoctor completely purifies the air every 15 min in a 285 sq ft space, and the larger versions (2000, 3000, and 5000) cover even more space. I have the AD3000. Here’s a picture of it next to a basketball and another with my chair in it for scale, so you can get a sense for the size.

Quiet

I hate loud noises and now that I keep it in my kitchen, I didn’t want a loud buzzing in the background. It is completely quiet unless it increases the fan speed to clear the air (which happens often while cooking) and if it dos get louder, it’s only for a couple minutes.

Unique features

AirDoctor has Dual Action VOC filter, Auto-Mode function, and UltraHEPA filtration which are somewhat unique to this air purifier compared to others on the market.

Automatically adjusts based on air quality

The built-in air quality monitor automatically adjusts the purifier based on your air. You’ll see the ring turn red, orange, or blue depending on the quality of the air, and then it’ll go to work. These lights also turn off which is great for nighttime. If you set the AirDoctor to Auto, the fan speed will adjust automatically (good air quality = low fan speed; fair = medium, poor = high and boost fan speed).

Not too heavy

I expected the AirDoctor to feel really heavy but it’s not too bad. The midsize machine, the AD3000, weighs 18 lbs, so I’m able to move it around easily if I need to. I almost never move mine but it’s easy if I need to since there are built in handles on the AD3000 and AD5000.

24-Hour Timer

If you don’t want it to run 24/7, you can set a timer anywhere from one to 24 hours and then it will automatically shut off. This is a great feature if you’re going out of town and like to minimize things that are running.

Easy to set-up

I took it out of the box, removed tape holding the front panel, popped it open, took the plastic cover off the filter, put it back in and plugged it in and hit the power button. It took about 30 seconds.

Cons

Limited to shipping in North America

This shouldn’t be a problem for most of my blog readers. If AirDoctor isn’t available where you are from their website, you can order from Amazon.

No remote control

I don’t really care about a remote control since I keep mine on auto, but I do think an app would have been nice since I’m a data junkie. I would love an app to monitor air quality when I’m out of town. And it’d be awesome if it could integrate into my security system and alerts. But again, none of these are deal breakers.

Online Checkout Process

This isn’t a big deal since I know the company is legit and my order went through just fine, but the checkout page is a little outdated and looks clunky.

How to Use the AirDoctor Purifier

Truthfully, all you have to do is remove the air filter plastic cover before using it for the first time, plug it in and turn it on. But I’ll go into to detail about how the AirDoctor works in this section in case it helps you.

Once you press the power button, it will start in Auto mode on the high-speed mode. Then, the air sensor monitor will detect the air (it monitors the air quality all day long, which I love) and adjust as necessary, changing the fan speed to whatever is appropriate to handle the contaminations in the room.

You can also manually adjust the fan speeds between Low, Medium, High and Boost. Low and Medium are best for everyday use while High is best for areas with more airborne contaminants (such as excessive smoke).

The Boost setting is best used for shorter bursts of time when you want to rapidly purify the air. We renovated for a year and are still wrapping up projects so I often use it when we have random work being done now. I also use Boost if someone comes to my house and I can tell they are sick.

If the LED lights are too bright, select Dim Mode to turn them off.

AirDoctors have three filters that create a 4-1 cleaning process.

1. Pre-Filter

This is the first filter used by the AirDoctor. It’s a washable, reusable filter and you never have to replace it give that you can wash it. It traps large particles like dog hair, dust, pollen, etc. Catching all of the large particles is essential for the other filters to work.

2. Activated Carbon Filter 

I explained this above, but the AirDoctor is a dual-action gas and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) filter. The VOC filter works together with the UltraHEPA Filter to remove dangerous ozone, gas, and volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde that can typically cause coughing, wheezing, and irritation in the eyes and throat. Most air filters have a gas trap voc filter, so it’s likely that if you’ve had a different brand, this is the same thing. This filter should last about 6 months before a replacement is needed.

3. UltraHEPA Filter

the UltraHEPA filter is what makes the AirDoctor so special. It’s the most advanced version of HEPA filters you can find and it captures the 99.9% of particles up to 0.003 micros, like I mentioned before. Most air purifiers on the marker trap down to 0.03, so the AirDoctor is MUCH more effective. This filter should last 12 months.

I mentioned that the AirDoctor has a 4-1 cleaning process, and the 4th part is that it contains an air ionizer.

4. Ionizer

This emits negatively charged ions into the air which helps purify it.

How long do Airdoctor filters last?

It varies depending on the machine you have, but all of them have a Change Filter Alert indicator light so you know when it’s time. But, here are the guidelines provided by AirDoctor. You can order replacement filters through Air Doctor.

• AirDoctor 1000

Based on 24/7 usage, the UltraHEPA® filter and Carbon/VOC filter in AirDoctor 1000 both need to be replaced about every 6 months.

• AirDoctor 3000

Again, if you run the machine 24/7, the Carbon/VOC filter should be replaced every 6 months and the UltraHEPA® filter should be replaced every 12 months.

• AirDoctor 5000

Based on 24/7 operation, the Carbon/VOC filter should be replaced every 6 months and the UltraHEPA® filter should be replaced every 12 months.

• You can buy filter replacements right from AirDoctor.

What size Air Doctor should I get?

It depends where you want to use it!

• The smaller and most compact AirDoctor 1000 purifies the air in smaller spaces like a guest bedroom, kids’ room or office, changing the air in up to 285 square feet 4 times per hour, or every 15 minutes.

• The next size up, AirDoctor 2000 cleans air in small rooms, medium/small bedrooms, nurseries, home offices and more. It circulates the air in 305 sq. ft. 4 time per hour or in 610 sq. ft. two times per hour.

• The AirDoctor 3000 cleans air in large rooms and spaces like master bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens. It changes the air in up to 638 sq. ft. 4 times per hour, or every 15 minutes. (This is the size I have and I keep it in our kitchen.)

• The AirDoctor 5000 is best for extra-large spaces like open concept living rooms and high ceiling great rooms, and will change the air in up to 1,001 sq. ft 4 times per hour, or every 15 minutes.

Why I love it as a mom

• It’s quiet & not an eyesore.

I never hear it unless the fan kicks up speed. I had another high quality air purifier in the past and even though it was smaller, it was such an eyesore. It was black and round and I much prefer the white machine that doesn’t draw attention to itself. The rectangle shape makes it easier to slide up against a wall or into a corner. The sound of the previous one was also so much louder than the AirDoctor but the AD is quieter than my air conditioning.

• It stands up to my son messing with the buttons.

I have a toddler and he loves to press the buttons and so far, it’s still been working just fine even after he presses alllll the buttons. I sometimes just have to turn it off and back on.

• Lightweight

It’s light enough that I can move it if I need to. The only time I move it is if one of us is sick and I’ll move it to the room where we are spending the most time, oftentimes a bedroom.

• Thoughtful design

I appreciate the simple features that make this machine so much higher end, including the ability to turn off lights at night and how easy it is to change filters. It’s nice to simply know that our family is breathing purified air.

• It’s nice peace of mind.

It cleans the air even when I can’t tell that their are contaminants. I notice it will increase fan speed when we are having our house cleaned, when I blow out a candle and when I’m cooking. When we are having random work done in the house, like painting or sanding, it will also increase fan speed.

I also like knowing our air is being cleaned since we host a church group of 10-12 people in our home most weeks. And with a toddler in preschool, he’s always bringing germs home. So while it can’t prevent all illnesses, it’s nice peace of mind that the air is being cleaned regularly.

And, since I’m pregnant, I like knowing that the air is clean so I’m not breathing in harmful things without even knowing it.

A few months into using the AirDoctor I started noticing it was giving me the red light (meaning it sensed the air was very poor) every few mornings and I couldn’t figure out why. Then I noticed it was turning red when I was using my Dyson AirWrap! Super interesting. One of my followers reached out to explain– here’s what she said.

Her answer made me feel even BETTER about our AirDoctor!

I’ll be really curious to see how it does when we have air quality issues. There was a wildfire near us last year and the air was TERRIBLE. The previous air filter I had didn’t even register that there was smoke. I KNOW the air inside my house was bad since we could smell it!

Bottom Line: I love it.

I hope this post was helpful since I couldn’t find many AirDoctor reviews out there when I was researching.

If you have other questions I didn’t address in this post, leave a comment and I can try to answer or you can always contact their customer service center at 800.221.2515 or info@airdoctorpro.com.

Don’t forget to use this AirDoctor discount link when you purchase to save on your purchase!

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The post AirDoctor Purifier Review & Why I Love it as a Mom appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.