EZ Melts Health Blog

Read Time: 6 minutes  Many women start new, healthier habits when they find out they are pregnant, which is a wonderful thing. However, it’s recommended to start building healthy habits and taking the necessary supplements for fetal health before conceiving. It’s never too early to change your lifestyle for the better, but if you are planning or trying to conceive within the next couple of years, it’s especially important.  Adopting healthy habits doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Work your way up to lifestyle changes so that they don’t completely alter your life in a matter of days. It’s better in the long run to take small steps that will make a lasting positive impact on your health and the health of your baby. Here are the top five to-dos to add to your pre-pregnancy checklist (we also included a handy printable checklist from the CDC at the end of this article). Talk with your medical care team on how to incorporate these safely, depending on medications, lifestyle, and health conditions. Stop Alcohol Consumption, Drug Use, and Smoking  This one is talked about a lot, but because it is so important, we had to include it! Here’s why: alcohol, illegal drugs, and smoking cigarettes can lead to severe birth defects, pregnancy, birth complications, and even fetal death, not to mention they negatively impact your quality of life. If you find it difficult to stop using drugs or alcohol for whatever reason, please talk to a medical professional you trust about how to reduce and stop these habits well before getting pregnant (think at least a year before).   Preconception Health Appointment Preconception appointments with your medical specialist are meant to help you and your partner prepare for the changes ahead while increasing your chances of conceiving. If you are conceiving or raising your future children with someone else, it’s important that both people reflect on their health habits, lifestyle, and mental preparedness.  Your doctor or midwife will be able to take a holistic view of your habits and health to determine the next steps in your journey to becoming pregnant. They may talk to you and your partner about supplements, running blood tests, and your family history to ensure you have a healthy pregnancy.  Always consult a doctor before altering or stopping any prescription or routine. Doing it by yourself in order to get pregnant can cause damage to your body and be worse for conception in the long run.   Be Active in 10 Minute Intervals Exercise is one of those habits that doesn’t provide a lot of instant gratification (besides those wonderful endorphins) until you get into a groove and work out regularly. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to be an athlete to enjoy and benefit from physical activity. It’s recommended that you get about 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, which is equal to exerting yourself but still being able to hold a conversation. This may sound like a lot, but if you were to incorporate small bursts of physical movement into your already established routine, you’ll be getting the benefits from 150 minutes in no time. Try this out: take a ten-minute break every two hours during the day to stretch and speed walk around your office, neighborhood, or house. Do that for a total of 30-60 minutes a day, and you’ll have your new routine down in no time. You may even decide to incorporate more physical activities once your body is used to getting the exercise it needs.   Talk to Doctor and Stop Birth Control Before Trying to Conceive People will often make the decision to become pregnant and stop taking birth control pills, get their IUD out, or stop other methods of contraception right before trying. Some of these methods alter your hormones which can take some time to get back to normal. It’s said that you ovulate and can conceive a month or so after getting an IUD taken out at your gynecologist’s office or stopping the pill, however, some people find it takes six months to a year for conception to happen. It really depends on your lifestyle, your health, and your partner’s reproductive health as well. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have.   Start a Prenatal Supplement Before Pregnancy People always ask an expectant parent: are you taking a good prenatal vitamin? Quality prenatal supplements, in addition to a well-rounded, nutrient-dense diet, is crucial to your health and fetal health. During pregnancy, your body is rapidly changing and creating new life, so it needs extra nutrients to support you and your baby. However, many people don’t start taking a prenatal before conception, which is also extremely helpful in preparing your body for pregnancy and childbirth. It is now recommended to take a supplement at least a month in advance of trying to conceive. Whichever you choose, make sure it has natural, quality-sourced ingredients and 400 mcg of daily folic acid, which, especially when taken in advance of getting pregnant, can reduce problems with fetal brain and spine development What should be included in a good prenatal vitamin? Folic Acid Calcium Iron Iodine B-Complex or B vitamins Vitamin D Vitamin C Vitamin A If you are looking for a complete checklist to start planning your pregnancy journey, click here and print out this free preconception guide.  ___ Written by Annie-Eliza Stevens

Read time: 4 minutes While everyone needs balanced nutrition, women’s bodies have specific needs that need to be met when it comes to vitamins. Many women go through so many changes throughout their life. For example, when a person becomes pregnant or is breastfeeding, nutritional needs change even further. It can be hard to keep track of all of the vitamins and minerals one gets in their diet, on top of making sure it is all balanced, quality nutrition. Supplements make it easy for women to fill the gaps...but what vitamins specifically should women be focusing on? We sifted through all the research and created this handy guide so you know exactly what to look for in minutes. Iron Iron is a mineral that is critical to endurance, strength, and vitality. Iron is essential for blood to carry oxygen through your body. It’s also necessary to create blood cells in general, hence why a shortage of iron = higher risk of conditions like anemia. And pregnant women need to nearly double their intake, because it aids in neurological development and is essential for growth in children. The recommended daily dosage for women (not including pregnant women) is around 18mg, according to the NIH. Folate Folate is the form of B9 which is found in foods, while folic acid is the synthetic version of B9. Both are safe, approved by the FDA, and equally useful. Folate is found in whole foods such as leafy greens like spinach and broccoli, chickpeas and kidney beans, liver, and more. Folic acid supplements are one of the most important vitamins to add to a daily regimen when pregnant. This is because, during the gestation of a fetus, a person’s body needs to increase the production of DNA, which requires folic acid. Taking folic acid supplements when pregnant can decrease the likelihood of congenital heart defects and other birth defects, preterm birth, and ectopic pregnancy.  However it’s important for every woman. Folic acid, along with the other seven B vitamins, supports a healthy metabolism by breaking down carbohydrates into fuel for energy. Vitamin B9 also helps support an even mood and emotional health and has been found to aid other vitamins in lowering the risk of heart disease. The daily recommended dosage for non-gestating women is 400mcg, according to the NIH. Calcium Women are more prone to developing osteoporosis and other bone diseases than men are. Work to combat this now with calcium! Medical professionals recommend slightly different amounts according to age groups, but the fact remains the same: this mineral is essential to your health and can only be found externally in our food sources. Calcium is widely known as being associated with bone growth and strength, as well as cardiovascular health. It also aids with blood clotting. For women, the NIH recommends anywhere from 1000-1300mg daily, but it varies depending on age. Biotin Biotin does a lot more than take care of hair, skin, and nail health—but that’s certainly a bonus. Biotin, or vitamin B7, is incredibly important. It supports our thyroid gland and hormone production, helps with fetal development during pregnancy, and also helps your metabolism. According to the NIH, the recommended daily dose for adult women is 30-35 mcg, but recommendations do vary. Vitamin D Vitamin D not only aids in calcium absorption by helping with cell transportation of nutrients. In general vitamin D supports major organs, proper immune function, and the musculoskeletal system. It also helps support your mood and energy levels throughout the day. A lot of people get vitamin D3 through sunlight, but not enough. There are many with vitamin D deficiency, so try pairing your outdoor time with a supplement. The recommended daily dose by the NIH in adult women is around 600 IU, or 15 mcg, but it may vary according to your needs. The EZ Melts Difference Many people don’t get adequate nutrition from their diet, which is where supplements come in! EZ Melts supplements are fast melting, EZ to take, and have a delicious customer approved flavor. Unlike many major vitamin brands, our tablets do not include harmful toxic ingredients, artificial flavors, or GMOs. Try us out and see the difference!  ___ Written by Annie-Eliza Stevens

Read time: 3 minutes Vitamin B7, or as many people know it, biotin, is an incredibly important B vitamin to get enough of. Often it is found in health supplements meant to aid in growing strong hair and nails and keeping skin glowing year-round. But what many people may not realize is biotin is essential for everyone, at every stage of life. Unfortunately, we have to get biotin through our food sources, and many people end up lacking the vitamins and minerals they need to live their best lives. Here are four benefits of biotin beyond hair, skin, and nails that might surprise you. Healthy Weight Bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and we as a society still have a way to go in normalizing differences. However, if you are concerned about your weight’s impact on your physical health, one such factor to be aware of is making sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals. This is because biotin, among other essential vitamins, supports thyroid regulation, and your thyroid, in turn, affects hormone balance and function, weight, and metabolism. Several enzymes in your body that process and metabolize fat, carbs, and proteins are supported by biotin. We can all celebrate our unique selves while still getting all the nutrition our body needs to function properly, biotin included. Fetal Development While it is rare to have a complete lack of biotin in one’s nutrition these days, always consult with a medical professional to make sure, especially if you’re expecting. Biotin is critical for many enzymatic reactions involved in growth and metabolism. Pregnant women particularly can become B7 deficient, and deficiency has been correlated with skeletal abnormalities in mammals and preterm infants. An increase in the amount of biotin consumed is often needed to support fetal growth for both parent and child. Blood Sugar Biotin is being studied in relation to supporting healthy blood sugar levels. Scientists believe that biotin may be connected to the body’s ability to regulate and synthesize glucose once it enters the bloodstream. If there is a history of glucose intolerance in your family or you are feeling especially fatigued and can’t pinpoint the issue, talk to your medical provider about the possibility of blood sugar abnormalities and if changing or supplementing your diet with vitamins and minerals like B7 will support a healthier lifestyle. Heart Health Heart disease is still the number one cause of death for men and women across the board, so it’s incredibly important to maintain cardiovascular health and find ways to support your heart. Proper nutrition and exercise are both very important for optimal heart health. Biotin has been correlated in some studies with lower levels of fat storage in the heart, and excess fat is known to be a risk factor in heart disease. While it is also important not to take too much biotin, as some studies suggest it can skew lab tests, B7 is a vital component of organ health. Making sure to get adequate amounts of biotin in external sources, such as supplements and food, is a great way to support a healthy, active lifestyle. The EZ Melts Difference If you try biotin supplements, see why EZ Melts is better--our vitamins are fast melting, EZ to take, and have a delicious customer-approved flavor. Unlike many major vitamin brands, our tablets do not include harmful toxic ingredients, artificial flavors, or GMOs. Try us out and see the difference!  ___   Written by Annie-Eliza Stevens

Many people, especially women, focus on outward appearances. We spend so much money and time in an effort to look good, we often forget to make sure we feel good too. At EZ Melts, we believe beauty radiates from the inside, and when you take care of your health, it shows! Making sure you get all essential vitamins and minerals is a huge step in the right direction, but unfortunately, most of us don’t. Did you know that 92% of Americans today are nutrient-deficient? There’s lots of room for improvement here! Biologically speaking, when talking about essential nutrients, females and males should focus on different daily amounts and different supplements regardless of gender identity. Here are some of the key vitamins and minerals women should pay extra attention to--and scroll down for a special offer on all of them!   Vitamin D According to research, about 42% of Americans today are vitamin D deficient! Low levels of vitamin D are linked to out-of-whack autoimmune responses, mood swings, and chronic skin conditions. Taking a D3 supplement will promote healthy cell growth and turnover, proper immune function, bone health, and a strong musculoskeletal system. Calcium Female bodies are more prone to developing osteoporosis and other bone diseases. Work to combat this now with calcium!  Medical professionals recommend slightly different amounts according to age groups, but the fact remains the same: this mineral is essential to your health and can only be found externally in our food sources.  Calcium is widely known as being associated with bone growth and strength, as well as cardiovascular health! And vitamin D3, mentioned above, aids in cellular transport of calcium, so pair it with a D3 supplement!   Biotin Biotin is connected with supporting luscious hair, strong nails, and beautiful, glowing skin. But did you know that on top of this, biotin does so much more? It can support lower cholesterol levels, promotes fetal development, weight control, and thyroid health, among other benefits.   Multivitamin Through evolution, our bodies lost the ability to create many nutrients on their own due to getting them through our food sources. Therefore, our bodies need to get many essential nutrients by eating and metabolizing them. Supplements are a great, quick, and cost-effective way to ensure you are getting maximum health benefits, and pairing a multivitamin with specific supplements only works to ensure you get everything you need!   The Full Package The ability to convert vitamins and minerals into digestible nutrition in the body is called bioavailability, and it is proven that combining specific vitamins and minerals together can enhance the absorption--supporting better health! Especially if you identify as vegan, pregnant, or more senior in age, taking supplements can support optimal health and wellness (with a doctor’s recommendation). EZ Melts’ Biotin, Calcium, D3, and Multivitamin are key for women’s optimal health. They can all be bought separately on our website--but make it easier AND less costly when you buy the EZ Melts Essential Women’s Health Bundle at a discount! The best part: EZ Melts supplements are non-GMO, vegan, and fast-melting with customer-approved, 100% natural flavors. EZ Melts are for everyone, but our Essential Women’s Health Bundle is an effective, safe support for targeting women’s health concerns. Get your bundle today, or give it to a woman you love! There’s nothing better than the gift of health this holiday season. Thank you for being a part of our community!  ___ Written by Annie-Eliza Stevens