As the nation inches closer to a mandatory “shelter-in-place” situation, our daily routines have become abruptly impacted. No more commuting. Less movement. More uncertainty. More stress.
Our physical bodies are quickly forced to adapt to the changes. And as a result, everything from nutrition to exercise to sleep to stress levels can quickly get out of whack.
We begin to stress eat as our stress levels increase. Recreation and fitness facilities close so we are unable to exercise as we normally did. Our sleep patterns change as our minds churn with uncertainty. Overusing substances like alcohol to calm ourselves down can quickly become the norm.
With all of the changes that came out of nowhere, it is important for us to remain aware of our overall health. While we do our best to avoid contracting the coronavirus, we must also maintain a healthy mind and body to prevent other maladies from coming about.
TOP ALL-NATURAL, EFFICACIOUS PRODUCTS FROM COMPANIES THAT CARE
Over the past twenty years I have successfully followed specific nutrition and strength programs such as intermittent fasting and clean bulking to achieve challenging goals for my body. And as a result, I have tried countless products along the way.
I pride myself on finding all-natural, efficacious products from companies that don’t try to fill their products with unneeded and unhealthy ingredients. I also worked for very large food and beverage company for years so I am well aware of what companies do to market and sell more products (and a lot of it isn’t good for you).
With years of trial and error, I have found a group of products and supplements that have helped me achieve these goals.
Many people have asked me over the years for product and supplement recommendations that have helped me. Now is a great moment to share, especially during a time when we are required to “shelter-in-place”. And since most of us aren’t making unnecessary trips going out and about to shop, you can shop online and ship these items directly to you.
Please note that I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
1. REDUCE STRESS ON THE BODY AND MIND WITH ASHWAGANDHA
A very wise trainer I had years ago gave me the secret recipe to a healthy body: Proper nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress management. Most people generally focus on some of these but few focus equally on all four consistently, especially stress management of the body.
There are many methods to manage stress, however natural substances called adaptogens exist that figure out what your body needs most and then delivers it. Adaptogens, like Ashwagandha, regulate your adrenal system, which manages your body’s hormonal response to stress.
I’ve been taking Ashwagandha from Nutririse now for several years and it has allowed my body to adjust and change as I execute various workout plans. When your muscles and body have minimal stress, they are able to grow and change the way you expect. If your body is stressed, the likelihood of improved results from your workout program is minimized. Ashwagandha helps reduce this stress.
2. WORK OUT AT HOME WITH RESISTANCE BANDS
If you are a strength trainer or someone who likes to increase resistance during workouts, seeing the words “GYM CLOSED” is the last thing you want to see. Yes, bodyweight exercises are a great way to stay in shape when you don’t have access to free weights. But your bodyweight remains the same for the most part.
What is the best way to add resistance while you “shelter-in-place”? You could search for objects heavy enough and small enough to lift at home OR you can purchase a set of resistance bands.
I spent hours researching the best set of resistance bands before I set out to travel the globe. The brand Bodylastics has superior products whereas other brands were cheaply made and the bands broke with resistance.
I carried this set around the world for the past two years and used them frequently to add resistance to my workouts when I had no access to a gym. The set comes with a puck and straps so you can use almost any door to pull against. The set also comes with nice, sturdy handles to attach with heavy-duty hooks to the colored bands representing various levels of resistance.
I was able to work out every body part with the bands. The resistance bands are an investment, but it is a better alternative than using bodyweight if you are a strength trainer and want progressive gains when a gym isn’t accessible.
3. ADD PROTEIN TO YOUR DIET
Being isolated indoors at home means moving around less than you normally would when commuting and working in your normal work environment. Make sure you pay attention to your diet while becoming less active.
Adding more protein to your diet and reducing your fat and carbohydrate intake will be a good strategy to keep your waist from adding unneeded inches.
I’ve tried many types of plant-based protein powders that cut out the unneeded fillers (which add unneeded carbs to your die)t. I have found the plant-based brand MRM brand to be one of the best tasting and most effective for remaining lean. My favorite flavor is the chocolate mocha and tastes great with water.
4. STAY “REGULAR” WITH A PROBIOTIC
Stress has a harmful impact to our digestive system and can cause our system not to function as it normally would back when we had a normal routine.
As our bodies adjust to stress and changes in diets, our bowel movement regularity can easily be disrupted. A daily probiotic will help regulate our digestive system and prevent any irregularity due to diet and stress impacts.
I’ve been using Florastor which helps me stay regular and adapt to the changes that occur. I have found Florastor to be one of the most cost effective probiotics for purchase online.
5. MAINTAIN OPTIMAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING WITH A MULTIVITAMIN
I realize this sounds like common sense. However, as our diets change and adjust, we may not be receiving much of the nutrients we used to consume. I’d recommend taking a multivitamin to provide your body the essential nutrients it needs on a daily basis as well as to promote overall good health.
I’ve tried many once-a-day supplements and landed on MegaFood’s One Daily multivitamin option because of the blend. It is a Certified “Business For Good” business and is an organic product without fillers.
I hope this list was helpful. If you do use any of these products, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Also, I realize many other products exist to help in situations like this. Feel free to leave a comment below on what products you recommend so it can help others also!
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