A few weeks ago, I published the blog “5 Healthy, Delicious Food Swaps You Need to Know.” It was so popular, that I decided to share my best beverage swaps with you as well. Read on for details covering my top 7 beverage swaps that I think you will love in case you are looking for healthy, delicious alternatives. You can shop all of these items directly on my Amazon Storefront.
Read moreMy Favorite Supplements to Feel My Best
SHOP Ritual Essential 50+
Maintaining a mind-body balance is super important to me, but being home the past few months has made me focus even more on my overall well-being. Times are stressful now—staying strong mentally and physically is becoming more critical than ever for all of us. I took advantage of this time to really fine-tune my supplement game, to figure out what was working for me long-term, and to evaluate my overall routine.
I recently shared my favorite go-to supplements in my latest beauty feature for Who What Wear. Scroll down to see the list of products and brands I love and use to help me stay youthful, healthy, and energetic; from what I like to add to my tea every morning, to what helps to keep my hot flashes and night sweats at bay!
** DISCLAIMER I am not a healthcare professional, and what I am recommending is what works for me. Before starting any new supplements or vitamins, please speak with your health professional to ensure you're taking the appropriate dosage and that the supplement is something you will benefit from taking.
Multi-Vitamin
This is a special multivitamin for women 50+ that I like to take to fill any gaps in my diet. It contains eight nutrients in their bioavailable forms that my body can use to help support the aging process, including Folate, Boron, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Omega 3 DHA, Vitamin K2, and Vitamin B12. I love the refreshing minty taste and smell too!
Bone Health
I am always wearing sunscreen and can’t count on getting all my vitamin D from the sun, so I supplement with a high dose of 5000IU daily. Not only is vitamin D great for bone, muscle, teeth, and immune health, but it has also been reported to reduce respiratory infections like pneumonia, the flu, and bronchitis.
Cellular Health
I started using NiaCel about 3 months ago and LOVE how I feel. I like to pack in a lot each day, and taking these particular supplements helps me maintain my health and wellness goals. Anything that supports brain, metabolic and normal liver function is a welcome addition.
I was told years ago by my Integrative Dr. to take this supplement daily to boost my immune system, and found it to be extremely effective. NAC is a potent antioxidant that supports comprehensive wellness, including lung, liver, kidney and immune function.
SHOP Tru Niagen NAD+
Antioxidants
I love this master antioxidant for its anti-aging properties and ability to reduce cell damage as we age. It also helps build protein in the body and is proven to lower cholesterol and increase immunity against certain illnesses, such as the flu and bronchitis.
NAC is known for its antioxidant activity and can actually increase glutathione to help with detoxifying the body. This important supplement also helps support overall wellness including optimal lung, liver, kidney, and immune function. It’s a must-take in my book!
Hormone Balance
Say goodbye to hot flashes and night sweats by taking this natural, hormone-free supplement made from the pollen of specific plants grown in Sweden. I am unable to take hormones and have found relief by taking two of these before bed as part of my night-time routine. I also like that they are small and easy to swallow!
This is a great, natural supplement that works very well for me and many other menopausal women for balancing hormones and mood swings— plus it also reduces hot flashes and night sweats. Other benefits include heart health, increased energy levels, and more! The full dose is to take four pills a day but I take two and that seems to do the trick.
This is another amazing supplement by Femmenessense that helps to support hormone balance and regulate cycles. It’s really helpful to ease bloating, mood swings, and hormonal acne.
Femmenessence MacaLife for Perimenopause
MacaLife helps to continue support and balance hormones, and has the highest success rate in published clinical trials of any perimenopausal herbal supplement in the world! It’s an amazing natural and herbal supplement that works for the majority of 8 of 10 women within the first three weeks, and also helps improve heart health!
Probiotic
Taking a probiotic every day to maintain gut health is great for ongoing immune support and a healthy microbiome. I love this plant-based, allergen-free, and organic probiotic for holistic support of my gut plus it also contains probiotics sourced from Jerusalem Artichoke! And, since they say the gut is actually a second brain, taking a daily probiotic is important to keep it running smoothly and restoring the natural balance of good bacteria in the intestines.
SHOP Hush & Hush and use code MELISSA for 20% off at check out!
Protein Powder
This delicious chocolate-flavored protein powder is a fave of mine and I love to start my day every morning with it as an almond milk latte. The formula contains probiotics that also have prebiotics blended in, making it even more beneficial. It’s also packed with great nutrients, 17 grams of protein, and is also super low in calories and sugar.
Use code MELISSA for 20% off at check out!
Hair
Natural hair loss can occur with stress and aging, causing texture and thickness to definitely change. I have been taking these supplements since last fall and have noticed a huge difference in the look, volume, and feel of my hair—plus its been growing like a weed!
Use code MELISSA for 20% off at check out!
SHOP Hush & Hush DeeplyRooted and use code MELISSA for 20% off at check out!
Sleep
These delicious blackberry- mint gummies taste like candy and are a great way to boost your body’s natural sleep hormone to help mellow your mind to relax. Created with a blend of Melatonin, L-Theanine and botanicals, I have found them to be extremely effective!
Want CBD to lure you off to dreamland? This sleepy-time option works wonders for me (especially these days)! Not only are these gummies helping me to get my beauty rest and wake up refreshed, but they taste great too. I am a huge fan of this brand for all things CBD and their products are formulated for women by women!
CBD
LiefRoyal CBD Oil Tincture 1250mg
This is a new brand that I have been enjoying lately to help keep me calm during this challenging time. It also helps keep internal inflammation at bay so it’s great for feeling relaxed and keeping any aches and pains in check.
Skin
We start losing collagen in our 20’s which is essential for firm, hydrated skin. I like to drink mine and this delicious collagen sparkling tea is super refreshing and great for skin, hair, and nails. It’s packed with 3000mg of collagen peptides and you can drink it alone or use it as a mixer. Each can has 20 calories, 3 grams of protein, and zero added sugars.
Use code GLOWGIRL30 for 30% off 12-pack purchases.
SHOP Skinte and use code GLOWGIRL30 for 30% off 12-pack purchases
Tinctures and Superfoods
PURE Inventions Antioxidant Green Tea Extract
I wish I could say I like the taste of water—but I need a flavor boost, so these infusion drops make drinking my required daily amount a lot more fun. They help me to stay hydrated and I get the antioxidant benefits from the green tea with no sugar or calories! Raspberry and peach are my favorite flavors.
Joya Bliss Cacao Elixir Blend Herbal Supplement
I’m always game for anything chocolatey and delish so was thrilled to recently discover the joy of Joya! This cacao elixir blend is a great stress-supporting supplement in a powder form, and contains the adaptogenic Reishi mushroom. Mix with water or any type of milk-plus can be added to coffee, yogurt, oatmeal and baked goods!
Kroma makes some of the best caffeine-free superfood powders! I love their lattes as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. My fave flavor is the turmeric golden latte, known for boosting immunity and reducing inflammation. It can be mixed with water or your favorite milk.
Four Sigmatic Reishi and Other Adaptogenic Mushrooms
Since I’m not a big caffeine drinker, I get my focus and energy from other sources. Four Sigmatic makes the best mushroom blends that aid in wellness, immunity, and focus. It’s easy to make a yummy latte by just adding boiling water and steamed milk of choice.
SHOP Pure Inventions
It takes time to experiment with different supplements to see what is the best fit for your current needs, but I hope you can use this list as a starting point. Be patient with yourself as you cultivate and develop a supplement routine that works for you!
Please feel free to comment below, share your favorite supplements or dm me with any questions.
In good health,
xxMelissa
Click the images in the carousel to shop my supplement picks!
Top 10 Beverages for Healthy Hydration
Summer may be winding down, but we all know that hydration is a year-round necessity. From sparkling to infused water, CBD tea, and collagen drinks, there are plenty of delicious and healthy options to choose from today. I’ve been trying so many of these lately mostly because I don’t like the taste of regular water and always looking for alternatives to make sure I drink enough daily fluids. Plus, I like to get additional health benefits from my drinks and there are so many great double duty options available. Below you will find my top 10 list of healthy beverages that also contain other essential nutrients. Read on for more!
1. SkinTē : The SkinTē Green Tea Grapefruit drink is a refreshing collagen sparkling tea, delivering nourishment to your skin, hair, and nails. Ingredients include Jasmine tea, hibiscus, hawthorn berry, passion flower, and more. It’s not too sweet and taste delicious. They have three flavors available so check them out - try SkinTē yourself with code GLOWGIRL30 for a 30% discount.
2. Flow Alkaline Water: If you’re like me, you prefer your water to be ethically sourced, slightly flavored and super delicious - say hello to Flow! This water also comes unflavored but I LOVE the strawberry + rose flavor! Flow water is 100% organic, natural alkaline spring water that has electrolytes and essential minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and bicarbonate. The 8.1 alkaline pH and provides super charged hydration and the packaging is 100% recyclable.
3. Rosemary Water: If you have a Mediterranean palette and like the taste of rosemary, this refreshing water is perfect for you! Made with 2% pure fresh rosemary extract, and available in still or sparkling form, it’s a flavorful drink that can actually help you to live longer according to the information found on their website. Rosemary is a medicinal herb and has traditionally been associated with longevity, improving memory and the circulatory system. Fun fact: This water was created when Founder David Spencer-Percival visited the Italian village of Acciaroli where one in ten residents make it up to and past their 100th birthday as a result of consuming lots of raw rosemary.
4. Vital Proteins Collagen Water: The delicious naturally flavored water contains 10 grams of collagen and 3 grams of sugar from the juice of real fruit. I love to drink the strawberry lemon flavor (my fave) following a workout, and it’s a great way to get my daily dose of collagen. Vital Proteins Collagen water comes in several flavors and contains no artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors or additives.
5. Oxigen Water: This water is revolutionary as it is enhanced with powerful O4 oxygen molecules into each bottle—100X more than other waters! Drinking Oxigen water will help maintain your optimum oxygen levels for faster muscle recovery, increased stamina and improved focus. The water is packaged with 100% rPET recycled plastic bottles. This is the perfect water to drink if you lead physically and mentally active lifestyle.
6. Glow Inner Beauty Powder by The Beauty Chef: I recently discovered this berry flavored powder at the CITRINE Natural Beauty Bar pop-up in LA and LOVE the taste when mixed with water for a vitamin-packed daily beauty essential! This powder is packed with nutrients and contains more than 20 bio-fermented and probiotic superfoods for glowing skin and a healthy belly. GLOW is designed to not only support gut health, but also collagen synthesis for beautiful skin, hair, and nails. More than 20 bio-fermented, whole-food ingredients—including zinc and vitamin C—support skin health. This healthy product is certified organic, has only 17 calories per serving, contains no sugar and the total carbs are 2.6 grams! Yes please!
7. Zen’s Tea House: I discovered Zen’s teas at the Farmers market earlier this year and love the quality and taste of their organic loose leaf botanical teas. I am a huge fan of their mission to educate customers about botanical medicine and the healing power of complimentary and preventative healthcare. My favorite Zen’s Tea House flavors include the Hawaiian fruit, rooibos, and rose berry. They also offer and package dried stevia leaves to brew and add to your tea (or other beverage) for a 100% natural sweetener. I love to make large pitchers of the Hawaiian fruit flavor and keep them in the fridge as a delicious natural iced tea option. Other popular teas to try from them include golden milk and holy detox but check out their website for all varieties.
8. Pure Inventions: I was at the Ritz Carlton spa in Aspen several years ago where they had a variety of these naturally flavored extracts to add to your water that support your immune system and over all well-being. Since I am always looking for ways to consume more water, this was a perfect match because they tasted great and provided other health benefits. There are so many varieties to choose from including green tea extracts, fruit extracts and more but my new favorite are the coconut water chocolate infusion drops. The taste is subtle but it’s just enough to make drinking water delicious plus these drops are free of sugar, calories, gluten, caffeine, artificial colors and sweeteners!
9. Teaonic: If you feel like you just want to cleanse a little bit, the Teaonic I Love My Liver tea will do the trick. This zero-cal, organic drink tastes of peppermint, ginger, and hibiscus. Yum! They make several other flavors with creative names to match their function like I Love My Gut, I Love My Skin, I Love My Body and more! I discovered these health-focused teas through my friend and celeb nutritionist Elissa Goodman while attending one of her educational fireside chats in LA.
10. Glow Water CBD Tea: As you know, CBD is all the rage right now as it seems to help naturally treat several health issues with formulations derived from cannabis plants that are non-psychotropic. Glow Water makes three different CBD teas to target specific needs: calm, restore, and sleep. This company started as a wellness tea to support an active healthy lifestyle and then evolved into incorporating the power of CBDs—it’s 100% organic, contains 10mg of full spectrum hemp-derived CBD.
Adding Pure Inventions drops to my water while on vacation in Positano.
Try some of these delicious healthy drinks and please let me know your thoughts in the comments below. I would also love to hear about some healthy drinks you enjoy that are not included in this list. Let’s drink up and keep our bodies hydrated to help us look and feel 10 years younger!
xxMelissa