Wellness Made Simple: 3 Key Supplements to Start Your Journey

From baby to adult, probiotics are necessary for good health. There are a lot of buzzwords surrounding the gut microbiome, many of which can be confusing to navigate. The one fundamental piece is the role those good bacteria or ‘probiotics’ plays in our overall health and wellbeing. Let’s Talk Microbiome Research is exploding with new information about how our gut’s function extends far beyond digestion, affecting things like mental health and mood, immune health, cardiovascular health and weight management to name a few. Think of your microbiome as an entire ecosystem. A community of microorganisms including bacteria, located mainly in your intestines, that play an enormous role in our overall health. These bacteria help with digestion of our food and nutrients, but we are learning that their role extends far beyond that. Did you know... It is estimated that roughly 40 trillion bacterial cells and up to 1,000 different species of bacteria are found in the gut and make up 1-3% of our overall body weight. (2-6lbs!) Probiotics Are Good Bacteria Probiotics are ‘good bacteria’ that are important at every stage of life. By incorporating these into your diet or supplement routine, you help keep ‘bad bacteria’ at bay. The microbiome develops early on and continues to diversify as we age. There are many ways to shape the diversity of our beneficial bacteria including the following 9 points. Eat a diverse range and variety of food. Higher microbiome diversity is considered better for overall health. In particular, fibrous foods like legumes, whole grains, fruit, and vegetables. Eat fermented foods. Think sauerkraut, tempeh, kombucha and kefir. These live bacterial cultures will restore gut flora and prevent an overgrowth of the bad bacteria. Eat prebiotic foods. This type of fiber will stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria. Think artichokes, banana, apple, oats and asparagus Eat whole grains. Not only do they contain a lot of fiber, but beneficial carbs like beta glucan which are digested by the gut bacteria, help benefit weight, cancer risk, and diabetes. Eat foods rich in polyphenols. Plant compounds in wine, green tea and dark chocolate are broken down by the gut to produce healthy bacterial growth Get tested for food sensitivities. Foods that your body can’t digest, further contribute to underlying inflammation. Stress management (think acid reflux, ulcers) Exercise regularly! Supplement with excellent quality probiotics. Everyone Needs Probiotics at Any Age Babies, children, and adults can all benefit from a good quality probiotic. By adding a probiotic into your daily routine, you continue to help create a strong gut flora. This in turn, strengthens the immune system and contributes to overall health. For Little Ones For babies, probiotic drops are recommended, as they are easy to add to a bottle or simply in the mouth directly... Organika has one with Vitamin D - Baby Probiotic Drops with Vitamin D. Kids can enjoy Probiotic Chewable Tablets, and adults can benefit from both a Probiotic + Prebiotic Powder. It is never too late to incorporate a good probiotic into your supplement routine if you haven’t already started. To support diversity of bacteria, I also look for a multi-strain probiotic, meaning there are many sources of good bacteria. You can achieve health for the whole family, simply by taking care of your gut flora.

How to Make Time for Wellness—Even on Your Busiest Days Life can get busy, but wellness shouldn’t fall by the wayside. Wellness isn’t just a luxury—it’s essential to feeling your best and managing stress. Research shows that carving out time for focused activities and wellness can have measurable impacts on health and happiness. Here are some ways to incorporate wellness into your daily routine, even when time feels scarce. 1. Prioritize Mini Moments of Self-Care Self-care doesn’t require hours; small, mindful moments throughout the day can make a difference. A recent study by Saha and Iqbal (2023) found that scheduling focus time not only boosted work engagement but also reduced stress and increased satisfaction among workers. Try breathing exercises while your coffee brews or stretching between meetings. These small breaks can keep you grounded and connected to your wellness goals. 2. Meal Prep for Success Healthy eating is foundational for wellness, but it can be tough to cook daily. Spending a bit of time over the weekend to prep healthy snacks and meals will keep you energized all week. Scheduling regular wellness visits is another way to prioritize health—research by Tong et al. (2021) demonstrated that such visits in primary care not only help manage wellness but also facilitate early diagnoses and preventive care. 3. Incorporate Movement into Your Day Exercise doesn’t have to mean hours at the gym. Fit in activity where you can—take a walk during lunch, do squats while folding laundry, or stretch with your kids. Studies also show that engaging in these short, focused periods of movement can improve both mood and energy levels. For instance, Mannino and Caronia (2017) highlighted the importance of time perspectives in healthcare work, suggesting that structured wellness time can enhance engagement and focus. 4. Support Your Health with Supplements When life is busy, it’s easy to miss key nutrients. Supplements can bridge the gap, ensuring your body gets the support it needs. Whether you opt for a multivitamin, probiotics, or collagen like Organika’s Enhanced Collagen, these can support your wellness journey, helping you stay balanced and healthy no matter your schedule. Prioritizing wellness doesn’t have to be complicated. Small, intentional actions make a big difference, helping you feel more energized and ready for anything. At Organika, we’re here to support you in your wellness journey, so you can make time for health—even on the busiest days. References https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Focus-Time-for-Wellbeing-and-Work-Engagement-of-Saha-Iqbal/066cb31929d91b459b8dcac276af32e35c796817

Do collagen supplements support weight management or other fitness goals? Collagen has exploded on the health scene for good reason. It helps boost the elasticity and integrity of our skin, supports our joints and muscles, and helps strengthen our gut lining. But what about weight loss? Can a collagen supplement help support weight loss goals, and if so, how? Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, accounting for about 30% of the body’s total protein. It is present in all of our tissues and organs, and is essential for many physiological processes. Let’s break down how collagen can support weight loss ... Source of Amino Acids As a source of protein and amino acids, collagen may drive weight loss because it helps with ‘satiety’, our feeling of fullness. When we feel full, with steady blood sugar levels, we tend to eat less and crave less sugar. Although not a complete protein, there is associated muscle mass support and building that is supported when coupled with resistance training. The more muscle we have, the more calories we burn at rest. Organika’s Essential Aminos Enhanced Collagen Protein is a great addition to your routine especially if weight loss is part of your goals, because with all 9 essential amino acids; this collagen powder IS a complete protein. Joint Support Collagen’s ability to strengthen and support our joints, is another way it may aid in weight loss. People living with joint pain, especially Osteoarthritis, know how limiting it can be on their ability to exercise. As collagen is essential for healthy connective tissue in joints, tendons and ligaments, supplementing may help reduce pain, allowing for increased physical activity. Try Enhanced Collagen Bone & Joint for added supplements and support to support aching joints, muscles and further build bone density. Gut Health Maintaining a strong gut lining is important for how our body digests, absorbs and utilizes nutrients from our food. Collagen plays a role in building healthy connective tissue throughout the digestive tract. It also helps ensure a good balance of bacteria. By supporting the gut, collagen helps aid in digestion, immune function and weight loss. For added gut health benefits, try Full Spectrum Collagen 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 – a multi-sourced collagen that also includes chicken broth for added protein and gut health benefits. Beyond Weight Loss Collagen may extend beyond weight loss, in its capacity to help deal with the unwanted side effects of weight loss like loose skin. By strengthening the dermis layer of the skin, collagen may help reduce the appearance of cellulite and sagging loose skin. Studies have shown that supplementing with hydrolyzed collagen peptides help to tighten the skin, improving its integrity and texture. Looking for fat burning? Let’s take it one step further if weight loss and fat burning are your goal. While collagen helps in the ways above, you can add other nutrients that assist in weight loss to any collagen. Organika has done the work for you with Metaboost Fat Metabolizing Complex. This collagen powder offers the same Enhanced Collagen protein from hydrolyzed grass-fed bovine collagen peptides... PLUS has other natural ingredients such as L carnitine and Garcinia to help boost your metabolism. This powder helps to keep you feeling fuller long, burn fat, and support weight management. As you can see, the benefits of collagen are wide ranging. Along with all the reasons we love collagen to support our healthy lifestyle, we can now add weight loss to that list.