Holistic Wellness Tips and Immune-Boosting Supplements to Take from Dr. Lekkos

I recently attended an incredibly informative lecture hosted by SHIFT Mind Body Soul, one of the rising stars in programming in the holistic health and wellness space. With Coronavirus weighing heavy on everyone’s minds, I wanted to share some valuable take-aways I learned so that you can use these extra measures to stay healthy during this stressful time! 

The educational lecture took place in Beverly Hills at Spring Place and featured renowned functional medicine expert and GOOP Contributor Dr. Lekkos, Founder of Bios Functional Medicine, and was moderated by my friend and holistic nutritionist Elissa Goodman. The discussion offered so much timely information regarding wellness and how best to support our immune system.

Below is a list of the wellness supplements that were discussed and some other tips on how to stay healthy and centered. I am currently using all of these, but I’m not a doctor so please do your homework before introducing anything new into your regime; research and talk to your physician if you are unsure of what is best for you. 

I wish you continued well-being during this challenging time. Sending healthy vibes your way!

xx Melissa

“Think from your heart, not your head, soak in life and think about why you are here, experience as many things as you can, and above everything else, do YOU all the time.” -  Dr. Lekkos

Dr. Apostolos Lekkos

Elissa Goodman

Click directly on supplement titles to order my faves!

IMMUNITY SUPPORT

Monolaurin 

Monolaurin is a chemical made from lauric acid; used to build the immune system, it is found in coconut milk and breast milk. It’s recommended for preventing and treating viruses such as the common cold, influenza, swine flu, herpes, shingles, and other infections. Dr. Lekkos recommended this as the best supplement to take if you feel a sore throat or virus coming on. 

L-Lysine (2000 mg per day)

Elissa Goodman recommended this supplement as a good one to take along with Monolaurin. This gem of a supplement offers immune system and respiratory health support.

NAC  (1,500 mg/day and not on an empty stomach)

This important supplement replenishes levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant found throughout the body - our levels decrease as we age. Taken together they can help boost immune function. They also help with chronic respiratory conditions and support brain health.

Glutathione

Glutathione is an important antioxidant that declines with age. It is critical for healthy immune system function and is necessary for proper detoxification. Works well in conjunction with vitamin C.

NAD (Take 500 mg plus)

NAD helps fuel many of the body’s essential functions. It’s important for our cells and it gives us energy and a sense of wellbeing, but NAD levels also diminish with age and stress. Taking this supplement can help elevate our own levels with increased and consistent use. Read my blog here on TRU NIAGEN (a unique form of vitamin B3) to see why I love taking this NAD supplement daily!

Vitamin D  (5000i.i. daily)

This familiar vitamin is good for supporting muscle, bone, teeth and immune health. According to ScienceDaily, taking large doses of vitamin D reduces respiratory infections like pneumonia, influenza, and bronchitis. Dr. Lekkos also mentioned to take it in larger doses to cure bronchitis.

Reishi and Other Adaptogenic Mushrooms 

Reishi and other mushrooms are important for immune function support and some also act as natural anxiety relievers that may help calm any angst we are experiencing. I like the delicious powders by Four Sigmatic! 

Probiotic

Taking a probiotic every day to maintain gut health is great for ongoing immune support and a healthy microbiome. But taking a probiotic that has prebiotics blended into the formula makes them even more beneficial since they do a great job of fertilizing the good bacteria you already have in your gut. I also like to get additional probiotics by starting the day with the Hush & Hush PlantYourDay protein powder. Click HERE to order and use discount code MELISSA during check out to get 20% off.

Curcumin 

This herbal supplement is great for reducing inflammation and as an antioxidant. It’s also used for relieving the stiffness and joint pain of arthritis. 

Photo credit: Stefanie Marie Photography

SLEEP EASY

Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together. — Thomas Dekker

Magtein 

A combination of Magnesium and L-Threonate, this can be beneficial for helping you fall asleep. It calms the buzzing in the brain, making it easier to relax and drift off into dreamland.

Charlotte's Web 

Looking to CBD as a way to calm your nerves and help you get some shut-eye? Charlotte’s Web is one of the most respected brands out there. Whether you prefer a flavored oil or a gummy, they’ve got you covered. 

Felix Grey Blue Light Blocking Glasses 

These clinically tested blue light blocking glasses can aid in getting your beauty sleep by improving melatonin secretion by 2x. You know what that means? Less chance of dark circles in the morning! 

Gwen Dittmar, Breath Work Coach; Nicole Fogel, Founder of SHIFT Mind Body Soul.
Photo Credit: Kelly Fogel Photography.

Elissa Goodman and Dr. Lekkos.
Photo Credit: Kelly Fogel Photography.

MIND OVER MATTER

It’s your perception and your reaction to life so be aware of how you are thinking. - Anonymous

Wellness isn’t just about taking care of our body, it’s also about managing our minds. Here are a few tips to help turn down the noise and get your head in a better space.

Breathing

Taking deep breaths throughout the day can help calm you down. I personally find box breathing super helpful to manage my adrenaline when it gets ramped up. Simply inhale for five seconds, hold for five seconds, exhale for five seconds and repeat. For some more amazing breathing techniques, check out Breathwork Master and Coach Gwen Dittmar and her step-by-step breathwork class on mindbodygreen. 

Journaling 

Sometimes you’ve got to let it flow! Grab a notebook and pen and just write. It helps to declutter the mind, and things seem to fall into perspective once you read back what you wrote. Keeping a daily gratitude journal is also a great way to shift your thoughts and realize how much you truly have. I believe when you approach life from a place of gratitude there comes even more to be grateful for. 

Meditation 

By now we all know how powerful a meditation practice can be for brain health. From Calm to Headspace, there is no shortage of apps out there that can guide us in taming our monkey-minds. Dr. Lekkos recommended another cool app called Brain.fm. It is basically a streaming music service that produces a continuous loop of computer-generated music that can help you meditate, focus, or sleep, using a combination of bimodal tones. This scientific approach claims to affect your brain differently than any other music.

“If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want.” ~Elbert Hubbard

Photo credit: Stefanie Marie Photography

Live Unstoppable with Source Naturals

As most of you know, I’ve been on a wellness journey over the past few years and have been doing my best to implement all the steps to be as healthy as I can be for my age. Not only do I want to incorporate clean and natural products in my beauty routine, but it’s super important for me to treat my body well from the inside out. So, I’m always on the hunt to find and try new products that benefit both. Say hello to the Wellness Formula supplements and CBD Cream from Source Naturals.

Since I seem to always burn the candle at both ends, I need to be diligent about taking my supplements like the Wellness Formula by Source Naturals to help me maintain a strong immune system! It’s an award-winning blend of over 25 vitamins and herbs that help support not only the immune system, but the respiratory and antioxidant defense systems as well. Source Naturals’ formulation strategy, called Bio-Alignment, was used to create the Wellness Formula, among other amazing supplements, by choosing optimal nutrient forms that work at the cellular level to provide balance to the body’s interdependent systems. The company’s signature formulas help manage internal imbalances that come up as a result of stress, poor nutrition, and environmental pollutions – which so many of us are far too familiar with. When I take the Wellness Formula, I feel confident that I’m doing everything I can to help my body and immune system stay strong!

With CBD being such a buzz-worthy topic, I’ve been intrigued by all of the ways it’s been incorporated into different products - from body creams to coffees. I couldn’t be happier with Source Pure CBD Cream as I spend a good part of my day sitting in front of the computer. This product is uniquely derived from orange peels rather than hemp and contains traditional herbs and organic botanicals. The plant-based cream is 100% THC-free, non-psychoactive, and is one of the purest forms on the market, so it is super high-quality. I like to apply at the beginning and end of each day to feel my best.

If you’re interested in stocking up on some key wellness products for the coming fall and winter months, Source Naturals has your back. They’ve been around for nearly 40 years and have a proven deep understanding of the body and its functions. Incorporating products that help benefit inner and outer strength is something I take seriously, and Source Naturals has helped me find solutions that make me feel and live unstoppable.

This post is sponsored by Source Naturals but all opinions remain my own.

Holistic Nutritionist Elissa Goodman's Travel Essentials

As part of my guest blog series following the International Women’s Day post, I’m excited to add my inspirational friend Elissa Goodman, Holistic Nutritionist & Lifestyle Cleanse Expert. Elissa is the creator of The S.O.U.P Cleanse (Superfoods. Organic. Uniquely Designed. Prepared with Love) the 7-Day RESET, Lunches with Elissa and host of The Elissa Goodman Show. I am honored to know Elissa personally and thrilled to be able to share her important health and wellness information with you each month. After beating Hodgkins Lymphoma and then losing her husband to another cancer, Elissa found her purpose through cleansing the body, healthy nutrition, and leading an overall happier lifestyle through food. In this series I will share with you Elissa’s golden advice for living your best whole life through what you eat so you can glow from the inside out! To kick it off, read on to find out about Elissa’s travel essentials.

We can all look to Elissa to show us how to do the impossible: balance traveling and health. Here are Elissa’s tips and tricks for when you are on the move!

• Pre-packed snacks - bringing these eliminates the uncertainty of eating an overpriced snack that probably won’t contain any nutritional ingredients.

• Stay hydrated - we often forget about the power of hydration on and off the plane. It is so important for our skin and energy levels to take in more water especially when you’re in the air.

• Eat more before - digestion takes more energy while flying, so eating more on the ground is a great way to sustain you throughout the flight rather than eating mid-trip.

• Supplements - travelling light is the key, so instead of carrying six different types of vitamins, Elissa recommends taking a multivitamin.

• Ground yourself - travelling can be notoriously stressful and hectic, bring items that are grounding such as a few small crystals or stones reminding you to stay calm and charge you with peaceful and positive energy.

For an expanded version of each area mentioned above, visit Elissa Goodman’s blog post Travel Essentials.

Click on images to shop travel essentials and kitchen tools for a healthy lifestyle!

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Green Juice with Elissa Goodman and Janet Gunn

Lunches with Elissa

“All it takes is a little advance preparation and you can cruise through your holiday travel with the least amount of health turbulance”

Elissa led a stressful and fast-paced life in the business world. Knowing this wasn’t sustainable she decided to make some major holistic lifestyle changes promoting a better recovery and a better life. She knows too well the affect of cancer and sickness on her own life and the lives of those close to her so fully lives by the realization that what you put in your body has the greatest impact on one’s life.

Thankfully, now cancer free, Elissa helps others navigate living their healthiest, holistic and disease free life through the power of nutrition. Elissa’s book “Cancer Hacks” guides people through the journey of facing this terrible disease and provides a comprehensive plan designed to offer natural and holistic advice. Her suggestions are practical and easy to incorporate into day-to-day living.

Elissa offers amazing 7-Day Cleanse RESET programs, which I am a huge fan of doing before the summer or going on vacation. I am delighted to partner with Elissa and offer the Glow Girl audience a 25% discount. Click on the following link to purchase and enter the code GLOWGIRL to redeem your exclusive offer.

I can’t wait to put the above tips and those on her blog into action during my travels this summer and I hope you do too!

xxMelissa

P.S. Check out Elissa’s Happy, Healthy Gut Guide for some more of her best healthy nutrition tips!