Eco Friendly and Sustainable Supplements

A while back on Instagram stories I shared all of the supplements I take. I received a BUNCH of questions so I figured I should write a whole blog post.

Up first, this post is about what I do. It’s in no way shape or form telling you what to do. I am not a doctor or a nutritionist and highly recommend you consult your healthcare provider when figuring out what might benefit you.

I am very good at listening to my body and knowing what it wants/needs. It’s very much in alignment with intuitive eating. I can tell when something is off in my body and what I need to do to fix it. For many of these supplements, I don’t take them every day.

Most days, I take CBD, a probiotic, collagen, and an omega 3. I eat a plant-based diet in that I eat little to no animal products. If I’ve gone through a spurt where I’ve eaten absolutely no animal products at all, then I also supplement with a B Complex vitamin.

Some of the links below are affiliate links for more information please see my disclosure policy.

cbd:

I’m naturally high-strung, type A, and experience general anxiety which can make it difficult for me to focus. Taking a little bit of CBD every helps relax me and keep me focused.

I tend to add a bit of CBD to my tea every morning and take a little bit of CBD before bed to help me sleep.

Anyone else go to sleep and wake up more tired than when you went to bed? Often, my brain can’t turn off. I do meditate to try and take care of this naturally, but I find with a bit of CBD the process is much easier.

CBD is by nature pretty sustainable. The plants don’t require a ton of watering or pesticides so the best thing you can look for is that the brands have been certified by a third-party. Here are the brands that I personally use.

• juna - committed to sourcing from permaculture farms that are focused on regenerating the soil

• SunSoil - certified USDA Organic and everything is made in house which reduces emissions

• Shae - this is the only topical application, and it comes in a plastic-free tin that’s perfect for upcycling

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About CBD

probiotics:

Taking probiotics and omegas regularly has completely revolutionized my skin. Many of you know that I’ve struggled with skin issues for a LONNNGGGG time. It’s one of the main reasons I gave up coffee.

RELATED: How I Quit Coffee

I’ve been eating a whole-foods plant-forward diet that always incorporated fermented foods. I thought I didn’t need a probiotic, but since I’ve started taking them, I’ve seen a HUGE difference.

Honestly, my skin is more clear than it’s been in a long time. Here are the probiotics that I rotate between.

• Seed - the first time you order, you receive a glass jar, which is shipped in a compostable mushroom tray. After that, the refills are sent in a compostable pouch which is pretty cool! You can get 15% off your order with the code ‘ZEROWASTE’

• Arkadiance - comes in a glass jar, but my favorite aspect about this pill is that it protects Urinary Tract Health with Cranberry and D-Mannose, which have been clinically proven to assist with UTIs.

collagen:

I also started taking collagen for my skin. Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body. It makes up 90% of connective tissue, bone mass, and 70% of our skin, but our body's natural collagen production declines as we age.

The company I trust most for collagen is Further Food. They go to great lengths to make sure their collagen is sourced sustainably. I prefer to use the Premium Marine Collagen Peptides. The collagen is strictly a byproduct of the fishing industry. No fish are caught specifically for collagen. Further Food only uses the fish skin (very rich in collagen) which often goes to waste.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Collagen

To be honest, I struggle to find a lot of these supplements without plastic packaging. I was pretty happy to learn that Further Food, while still packaged in plastic, uses 100% post-consumer recycled plastic #2 which is actually my favorite of all the plastics.

Using recycled plastic reduces the carbon footprint by 78%, drastically improves the carbon footprint for travel due to it being lighter than glass, it consumes 90% less energy, and it’s a pure plastic (not a mix!) so it can be recycled again and again.

You can get 15% off your Further Food purchase with the code GOINGZEROWASTE.

There’s no such thing as vegan collagen, but the vegan collagen supplements on the market are meant to boost and preserve natural collagen.

omega 3s:

Omega 3s are very important for brain health, heart health, decrease inflammation, and more. I’ve struggled with inflammation since I was a kid so my doctor recommended that I either incorporate salmon into my diet or start taking a supplement.

There are three different types of omega ALA, DHA, and EPA. ALA is pretty easy to come by as it’s in things like walnuts, flax, avocados, etc. While ALA can be converted into DHA and EPA in the body, it doesn’t happen very often.

“Ten key papers published over the last 10 years were identified with seven intervention studies reporting that ALA from nut and seed oils was not converted to DHA at all. Three studies showed that ingestion of micro-algae oil led to significant increases in blood erythrocyte and plasma DHA.

“Further work is now needed to identify optimal doses of alternative vegetarian LC3PUFAs and how these can be integrated within daily diets. The potential role of algal oils appears to be particularly promising and an area in which further research is warranted.” (source)

From what I’ve seen, I think the research is favorable for a vegan omega supplement with algae. I’ve tried both fish oil and algae for DHA and EPA. I personally, haven’t noticed a big difference between the two. I have both bottles, and I’m not sure which one I’ll go with after I run out of them.

• Omnibiotics vegan omega 3 supplement

• Arkadiance

b complex:

If you’re a vegan, you need to be taking b12! If you’re a vegetarian, you als might need to be taking b12. A lot of my hormonal problems could have been fixed simply by taking a b complex vitamin in college.

Here’s a quote from one of the leading doctors in the space Dr. Jolene Brighten, “B vitamins are absolutely essential for building amazing hormones and liver detoxification, which aids with elimination of estrogen. Estrogen dominance is a common culprit behind PMS symptoms, period problems, and many of the hormonal issues we deal with as women. B6 is most notable for helping with our hormones & I typically use 50 mg as a starting place.⁠
⁠
”B vitamins also power those adrenals to give you the energy & resiliency you need. B5 fuels your adrenals so you have more energy and can indirectly help progesterone production.”

RELATED: 10 Ways to Take Care of Yourself During Your Period

If you are a woman and you’re vegan, please take your B12.

Funny enough, I bought B12 to take for energy in college, but I only took it when I was really, really tired and I had a show to do. When you’re performing, you need energy! Energy is the difference between a good show and bad show. Performing takes a lot out of you.

I did that without knowing that my body was actually severely lacking in B12, I just wish that I had been taking it regularly.

This is the b complex that I currently take.

adaptogens:

Adaptogens AKA adaptogenic herbs aren’t a new fancy thing. They’ve been used for centuries in both Chinese and Ayurvedic healing traditions in the forms of supplements, tinctures, and teas.

These herbs help the body resist or adapt to stressors whether they’re physical, chemical, or biological. Adaptogens work with the endocrine system to tweak hormone production and the physiological responses to stress.

There are several adaptogens I use regularly:

• Ashwaganda is best known for helping to reduce stress and anxiety. (source)

• Maca gives a natural energy boost and helps to regulate estrogen. Which is great if you produce too much estrogen naturally - like ME. (source)

• Reishi helps boost your immune system (source)

• Cordyceps keeps blood sugar levels in check and helps to fight inflammation. (source)

• Chaga is rich in essential vitamins and minerals like the b12 complex, zinc, iron, magnesium, and calcium (source)

I can really feel the energy boost from maca and recommend only taking a small amount in the beginning like a 1/4 of a teaspoon to see how it affects you.

I bought most of these adaptogens in plastic tubs, but was able to find a few at a special herb shop in bulk! I only use a teeny-tiny bit of each so thankfully they last a super long time.

I tend to opt for the Further Food blends that already have the adaptogens mixed in, but have also heard great things about SunPotion.

Do you take any supplements?

8 Tips for the Perfect Staycation

I canceled my trip to New York this September.

I don’t travel very often. Sometimes, I feel like the only millennial in the world who’s not interested in that nomad lifestyle. I love being at home.

For me, vacationing doesn’t feel that different from everyday life. The only true difference for me is a change of scenery and a little (hopefully a lot) less work!

When I’m home I eat, drink, shop, and walk around. When I’m on vacation I eat, drink, shop, and walk around in a NEW location.

Upfront, I know that I’m privileged and have had the opportunity to travel in the past. The first few times you travel it is absolutely transformational and I don’t want to downplay that in any way.

But, as someone who hates flying and detests traveling/being trapped in a moving vehicle for an extended period of time, I prefer not to do it. Add in the emissions, and I feel like I have plenty of good excuses to stay put.

All that being said, I do enjoy a brief weekend trip/trips close to home. Even staying in a hotel in Napa a few miles away feels like a major treat, and is something I LOVE to do!

My goal of this blog post is to convince you to cancel one big trip in lieu of staying someplace nearby because taking one fewer flight is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint.

I’m super excited to be partnering with Icebreaker for this post all thoughts and opinions are my own for more information please see my disclosure policy.

Icebreaker is the perfect clothing for going on vacation because it is so versatile and you don’t have to worry about washing it. You might remember the Icebreaker challenge I took earlier this year. The goal was to wear one t-shirt for seven days without washing it.

And, it was a success! But, the true testament was with Ben Lecomte from The Vortex Swim.

Ben swam from 350 nautical miles from Hawaii to San Francisco through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch collecting micro-plastic samples for research and the entire crew was wearing Icebreaker. They only washed their clothes once a month, so they took the challenge much further.

Related: Learn More About the Vortex Swim

Icebreaker uses merino-wool which is anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and rockstar for temperature regulation. Wool has been my favorite natural fiber for a very long time.

Icebreaker has a very strict animal welfare policy that ensures a healthy, low-stress quality of life for the sheep. They use small family farms that treat their sheep with care!

Icebreaker produces a transparency report every year that covers everything from social responsibility, worker safety, animal welfare, and environmental integrity. Read the Report

One of the things I love about Icebreaker is how easily it packs. It’s wrinkle-resistant, making it easy to shove in your suitcase and go.

If your trips include a lot of outdoor activities like hiking, running, camping, backpacking, etc then this is absolutely the brand for you.

I am not a very active traveler. I prefer leisurely walking, delicious meals, and watching shows. But, what’s great about Icebreaker is that no matter what you like to do their pieces easily transition from active settings to more leisurely ones.

Icebreaker is offering free shipping to GZW reader in the US until the end of November

I will say, the one place I really like to visit is New York. Having majored in musical theatre, and being very passionate about the art form, I really like to see shows.

But more than ever I’m extra conscious of my transportation footprint. Taking one fewer transatlantic flight is one of the best things that you can do for the environment.

I’ve seen a push among many sustainable living advocates for taking trains, busses, and transportation with lower emissions, and I think that’s AMAZING!

However, the public transportation sector in the states has a long way to go. For me to get back home to Arkansas it would take me more than 80 hours with a train/bus combo. Surprisingly, it would take around the same amount of time to get to NYC, but it would cost $2,000 one way.

If I were single and had no responsibilities at home, I could definitely see myself taking off for an extended period and exploring the states via train. But, unfortunately, that’s just not in the cards for me at this time.

I think it makes more sense to travel less frequently so I decided to try and accomplish my entire New York vacation list but at home!

3-Day Vacation Plan:

• Walk All of Central Park
• Eat Ice cream at Serendipity
• See a show
• Eat great food and drink fancy cocktails
• Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
• Go thrifting

PACKING LIST:

• T-Shirt Dress
• Biker Shorts
• White Tee
• Sweater
• Fancy Dress
• Tennis Shoes
• Wedges

I am all about packing light so I try to prioritize versatile pieces that I can mix and match. Icebreaker has a great selection of clothing that can easily transition through all of your planned activities.

All of my pieces fit nicely into a small backpack. Justin and I are both very reliant on public transit so packing in a small backpack is preferred.

DAY 1 | San Francisco

T-Shirt Dress / Biker Shorts / Tennis Shoes

I got a head start on Justin for day one!

When I’m on vacation I want pieces that can move with me. I want to be able to look cute when out and about, but also be able to walk A LOT.

I love wearing short skirts with tennis shoes so the t-shirt dress is perfect for a day at Golden Gate Park. I wear shorts underneath the dress to prevent my thighs from chaffing. I just fold the shorts in half so they don’t peak out under the dress.

My first stop was to walk the entire length of Golden Gate Park. I made a pit stop at the Japanese Tea Garden for some tea. This is where Justin proposed so it holds good memories!

Then a stop at the Conservatory of the Flowers is a MUST! It’s one of my favorite parts of the city.

Be warned! CotF is VERY humid and quite warm. The plants love it, and thanks to Icebreaker, I don’t mind one bit.

Synthetic fibers like polyester aren’t breathable so it traps in your natural body heat. Natural fibers like merino wool are very breathable making it easier for you to adjust to a quick changes in temperature.

Merino Wool also wicks moisture very quickly allowing you to stay cool and dry!

Then I walked all the way down to The Giants - the big windmills at the end of Golden Gate Park, and walked all the way down to the Ice Cream Bar, where I grabbed a black bean burger and a GIANT Vegan Sundae!! It was magnificent.

The rest of the afternoon was spent thrifting up and down Haight and Ashbury and then stopping for dinner at my favorite restaurant Cha Cha Cha for excellent food and drinks. My go to is roasted potatoes with plantains and black beans.

DAY 2 | Albany

White Tee / Slinky Dress / Wedges

I love how easily this outfit will go from day to night. I wanted today to be a bit more relaxing, so the morning starts with breakfast at one of my favorite spots Sam’s Log Cabin which is right near downtown Albany.

I love Albany. They have a bowling alley, cute restaurants, and shops. We window shopped in antique stores went to my favorite spice shop, and I saw a psychic - something I’ve always wanted to do, but never have!

Afterward, we had to stop at Mr. Dewies Cashew Creamery. I have to say we definitely got our fill of ice cream!

I didn’t find a show playing that I was super interested in seeing so Justin and caught a movie at the Albany Twin a landmark theatre. Theatre’s always tend to run a little chilly so adding a merino wool tee over my favorite summer dresses was an easy way for me to stay warm and cool.

We finished the day with dinner at Little Star where I ordered several Old Mexico’s one of my favorite cocktails to date!

DAY 3 | Sausalito

White Tee / Khaki Shorts / Sweater / Tennis Shoes

Today is the day! I have never walked the Golden Gate Bridge before. September and October are the closest things we get to summer months. You’ll find that you don’t need a jacket during the day which is amazing.

But around 5 or 6 the fog rolls in and it’s great to have a sweater on hand. I have this one from Icebreaker which has been my go-to! Justin and I started in SF and walked across the Golden Gate Bridge before venturing into the Marin Headlands which is absolutely breathtaking.

It was a little windy, but not too bad. We finished our little weekend vacation in Sausalito. Where we grabbed brews and dinner at The Barrel House and before heading back we, of course, had to stop and get some ice cream.

I hope I’ve encouraged you a bit to get out and enjoy your town! I had a blast getting to hang out with Justin and explore new parts and old favorite parts of where I live.

I wanted to leave you with a few tips for when you plan your next staycation:

1. Plan your trip. If you were going to go somewhere else, you’d make a plan so do the same thing for when you stick around town.
2. Pack appropriately! Finding a few versatile pieces that transition through all of your activities is a must. (I, of course, am a huge fan of Icebreaker!)
3. Budget for your trip. This is the time you can treat yourself and really splurge. Go to a nice fancy restaurant you’ve always wanted to try. Support a local artist or maker.
4. Unplug! When I’m on vacation, I’m completely unplugged. No laptops, Instagram, or working. This allows me to really get into vacation mindset.
5. Get a souvenir. Now, I know that might sound crazy coming from a zero waste blog, but I love to get souvenirs when I travel. But, my souvenirs are typically edible… like a big loaf of sourdough from San Francisco or chocolate from Ghiradelli Square.
6. Clean your house before your trip starts. One of the best things about going on vacation is staying somewhere else. I just love walking into a cleanroom.
7. Take photos! If you were somewhere new, you’d probably break out your camera to capture a few moments. Do the same when you’re on a trip close to home.
8. Relax and have fun!

I want to give another shoutout and thank you Icebreaker for sponsoring this post.

Don’t forget, Icebreaker is offering Free Shipping to all GZW readers in the US until November! Rolled up t-shirts make great stocking stuffer gifts, you want to get a head start on that holiday shopping. ;)

I would love to know if you’re considering sticking around town for your next vacation?

8 Apps to Help You Live a More Sustainable Life

Everyone has a cellphone nowadays, and there are so many apps to choose from. But did you know there are several apps that can help us live a sustainable life?

From helping you reduce food waste to getting rid of junk mail, there’s an app for almost everything you can think of. It’s really incredible to see technology be used for the betterment of our planet!

So, I’ve rounded up 8 apps that will help make sustainable living a little bit easier.

bunz:

If you want to be a part of the sharing economy, Bunz makes it incredibly easy to do so.

On Bunz, you can trade your items locally, hassle-free. 

Let's say you have a few items you no longer need, but don’t want anything in return. Or, maybe you need something but the other person doesn’t want what you have to trade.

To make both situations work smoothly, Buz created a digital currency called BTZ which can be traded for items, or even used at stores and cafes.

Bunz is based in Toronto, so if you live there, you’ll have tons of local businesses on board with BTZ. Even if you don’t live in Toronto, the good news is Bunz is branching out and expanding. 

You can still use this app anywhere you are, and it’s a great way to get rid of anything that no longer serves a purpose in your life. It’s also a great way to build community, one of Bunz’s main goals!

Related: 5 Ways for You to Join the Sharing Economy

olio:

Got some leftovers you don’t want to waste? Olio can be help you share them!

This free app connects neighbors to share food (and other things) instead of throwing them away. 

Globally, a third of all food produced is wasted. In America alone, 40 percent of food is wasted. 

When food goes to a landfill, it wastes the water, labor, shipping, transport, manufacturing and packaging involved in making it. If food waste was a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases after the USA and China.

That’s why it’s so important we halt food waste in its tracks! Olio can help with that.

All you have to do is snap a picture of the food you want to give away, choose a pickup location, and choose who to share it with. That’s it!

You can also browse the listings and see what others are sharing. If something sticks out that you like, just send a friendly request and pick it up at the agreed upon location.

Olio can even help businesses become zero waste: They’ll be more than happy to come pick up your surplus food and redistribute it. 

eco cred:

Worried about your carbon footprint? EcoCRED can help you reduce it!

This app helps create a personalized carbon footprint for you after you answer a few questions about where and how you live. Many changes can impact your personal footprint, such as your diet, your water and electricity use, and so on.

Based on EcoCRED’s assessment, they’ll assign you a level which will help you track your progress and show you where you can grow. They’ll even share some easy tips and tricks to help you get started on lessening your carbon footprint.

You can literally watch your footprint change in real-time as you make positive changes!

Then, EcoCRED will connect you to other users making a difference to see which habits are making the biggest difference. You can compete against other members and redeem in-app rewards in the process.

Completing more positive habits that lower your carbon footprint will also earn you redeemable points. 

Overall, it’s a fun, interactive way to decrease your carbon footprint as well as monitor it.

Related: 5 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

cozzo: 

Want to prevent food waste but find it hard to keep food from spoiling in your fridge and pantry? CozZo could be the solution you need!

This free app helps you manage your fridge and pantry, along with functioning as a grocery shopping planner. It helps you track what you already have in your home and when it expires, so you can stay on top of things easily.

First, you set up your food and home supplies inventory, so you can see exactly what foods you have to work with, and when they expire. 

 CozZo lets you have up to 10 members of your household on this app, collaborating together. Anything they add to your home or shopping list gets updated in real time.

Perhaps one of the handiest things about this app is the latest top improvement – their premium recipe finder. You can literally get recipes based on what you already have at home with just a few taps. 

This premium recipe finder lets you choose from one of the 10 premium cooking sites in your preferred language, but generic google search is available to all users. This will really help you use up items that are just about ready to expire and need your attention ASAP!

The app also has a shopping planner that sends you reminders, helps prevent overbuying and can easily be shared with other housemates at the tap of a button. 

There’s even expiry tracking that clarifies “use by” and “best by” dates, gives you reminders when something is going to expire, and shows your monthly progress. 

The whole goal is to help you avoid as much food waste as possible. And, in the process, you won’t forget what’s in your fridge or pantry!

sharewaste:

Do you have food scraps you want to compost, but no access to a compost bin? ShareWaste can help!

This free app lets you see nearby composts that you can take your food scraps to. If you have a compost already, but need people to drop off food scraps, you can also become a host on ShareWaste.

To start, you just choose whether you’re a donor or a host. Donors have kitchen scraps to give, while hosts can recycle the scraps. 

You can browse a map and see where other hosts are located in your area, which is really cool. It will tell you exactly what the hosts are accepting (such as veggies and fruits), and make it easy to contact the hosts to schedule a drop off.

Any individual, community garden or company can become a host on ShareWaste as well. The only requirement is that you have composting space and are willing to share it with other people.

This app makes it super easy to compost no matter where you live and will help connect you to neighbors. It’s also fantastic for people who travel a lot, because it can help you locate the nearest compost drop off location in your area.

paperkarma:

Got junk mail? Let PaperKarma take care of it.

This app will help you eliminate junk mail from your life. All you have to do is snap a photo, press send, and you’ll be unsubscribed.

PaperKarma works well on unsubscribing you from most magazines, catalogs, credit card offers and yellow pages you’ll get in the mail. Coupons from local grocery stores or the local pizza chain may a bit tricky to unsubscribe you from, but PaperKarma will do their best.

The cool part is even when PaperKarma can’t contact the company automatically, they’ll still locate their contact information in case you want to contact them yourself. I think that’s a great option.

In general, PaperKarma can help stop you from receiving junk mail from associations, catalogs, charities, coupon offers, credit offers, direct marketers, insurance offers, local mailers, magazine, and national mailers. It won’t, however, stop mail you actually want – so there’s no reason to worry.

Once you submit a request, PaperKarma processes it within 24 hours. Once processed, it can take 8 to 12 weeks to see the unwanted mail completely stop. 

This app will greatly help you reduce the amount of paper waste in your life, and it’ll help save trees! What could be better?

forest:

If you struggle with staying focused and off your phone, the Forest app may be able to help you.

This app helps people beat their phone addiction and manage their time in a productive, pleasant way that actually helps the Earth. 

Users can earn credits by not using their cell phones and plant real trees around the world with the credits. Isn’t that awesome?

There’s also a visual aspect to the app: When you want to focus, you can plant a (virtual) tree. The tree will grow in the following time, but if you leave the app, the tree will die. It’s all designed to motivate you to stay focused. 

Literally, over time, you will help grow tons of virtual trees, creating your own little forest. Each tree will represent your focused time. Not to mention, you’ll also help grow real trees too!

This is a great app to install that will help you stay focused in any scenario, like at work, studying for school, or even just being present with your friends.

So far, Forest has helped plant well over 500,000 trees. Forest has partnered with Trees for the Future in order to make this happen.

This app is definitely perfect for people who need a little motivation to stay focused. I love how it rewards you for spending time away from your phone!

#climate:

If you've got a big following on social media and want to use it to help the environment, #Climate is the app for you. 

This app helps you share important climate change news with your followers and encourages them to take action. It can be hard to know which organizations to trust, but #Climate makes it easy to share current legitimate actions with your followers.

When you setup an account, you get to choose which environmental topics are particularly interesting to you (ex: fossil fuels, animal welfare, etc). You can decide how frequently you’d like push notifications too, and you can even customize the news to your specific location.

#Climate takes your personal preferences into account and curates topics and news you can easily scroll through.

When you find a topic you feel will be most relevant to your audience, you can easily share it with them because #Climate is linked to your Twitter and Facebook accounts. Then, you can track how many people reacted to what you shared and if they take action.

#Climate helps you mobilize your followers to bring about real change and raise environmental awareness. It’s great for influencers looking to get the latest scoop on climate change news all in one place!

Which sustainable app will you be downloading?

Guest Post: Ariana Palmieri is the founder of Greenify-Me.com, a blog dedicated to zero waste living and sustainability. Her work has been featured on MindBodyGreen, Green Matters, The Penny Hoarder and several other publications. Get her free e-book "10 Ways to Reduce Trash" by signing up to her newsletter and learn how to reduce your waste today.