Queasy Products For Natural Motion Sickness Relief

 Road trips can be a nightmare for someone with motion sickness. It can be even worse for those with food allergies. Keep reading to discover tips and natural remedies for motion sickness.

 I am not a fan of car rides that are longer than 30 minutes. Long car rides can leave me feeling miserable due to motion sickness. For as long as I can remember, I have been the person who gets queasy while riding in the car. Even when I was a baby, I had car sickness. My siblings have told me many stories about the times I got sick in the car when I was a baby. 

 While some people may outgrow car sickness problems, I have not. I have just learned to manage my symptoms so my nausea never turns into sickness. I have also learned what activities not to do in the car to prevent car sickness, but that may not always prevent symptoms of motion sickness. When the first symptoms of car sickness appear, I have learned what to do before they get worse. 

The only way I can prevent my motion sickness symptoms from happening is to sit in the front seat and look out the windshield or sleep while the car is moving. Looking out the front car window usually causes anxiety for me, especially during rush hour, so I choose to sleep.

Motion Sickness Medicines Are Not An Option, Due To A Dairy Allergy

  In the past, for longer car rides, I used to take an over-the-counter motion sickness medicine to prevent car sickness. That way, I did not have to sleep the whole car ride, and I could watch a movie on my phone. Then I discovered that my lactose intolerance was really a dairy allergy. 

 After being exposed to mold in the home, my dairy allergy became worse and life-threatening. I later learned, through an accidental exposure on a recent 7-hour car trip, that motion sickness medicines contain lactose monohydrate which is a sugar that comes from dairy. Thankfully, I had my nebulizer with me. 

Queasy Products For Natural Motion Sickness Relief 

 So, what can a person with a dairy allergy do to prevent motion sickness? Other than never going on long car rides, what options are there for car sickness medicines for someone who has a dairy allergy? 

I recently discovered the Queasy Product line from Three Lollies for natural motion sickness relief. Queasy Products are a safe and natural remedy to calm queasiness. These natural ingredient products relieve nausea from motion sickness, morning sickness, general upset tummies, and medical treatment such as chemotherapy. 

Queasy has a comprehensive line of products that are doctor-developed, natural, and drug-free. All products are safe for kids, adults, and pregnant moms. 

 The products include:

     + Queasy Drops – delicious lozenges that provide sensory input that stimulates the cranial nerve and helps reduce nausea. Made with essential oils, including ginger and lemon, to help soothe the digestive tract. 

  + Queasy Bands – wearable bracelets that help reduce nausea using acupressure.

  + Queasy Naturals reduces nausea through a research-backed dose of pure ginger root. 

What Causes Motion Sickness?

 Motion sickness kicks in when the signals from your inner ear, your eyes, and your body do not match up. Imagine reading a book in the car—your eyes see a still page, but your inner ear senses motion from the vehicle. This conflict confuses your brain, and nausea is the most common response. The inner ear, responsible for balance, becomes the culprit when it can’t line up its signals with what you’re seeing and feeling.

 Genetics can play a part, too. Some people can read maps all day in the passenger seat without a second thought, but others can’t glance at a phone without getting dizzy.

Tips To Prevent Motion Sickness

 Preventing motion sickness can be tricky, as these tips may not work for everyone. If possible, sit in the front seat of the car and don't do activities like reading or looking at your phone. Listen to music and not a talk radio show. When I was a kid, my dad would listen to a talk radio show, and this would always make my nausea worse, even if I was sleeping. To this day, I still get queasy when my husband tries to listen to talk radio in the car.

Other tips that may help with car motion sickness

  + Stay hydrated - Dehydration can cause symptoms of nausea and headaches. Taking small sips of water is best while avoiding caffeine and sugary drinks.

  + Eat a light snack - Eating light can prevent an upset stomach. Foods like crackers, apples, or pretzels seem to do best. I find that eating salty snacks tends to help best with nausea, as well as a sour drink like lemonade.

  + Wear Acupressure bands - Acupressure bands, which press on the wrist’s P6 point, use gentle pressure to calm your stomach without any medication.

  + Take Breaks - Stopping for fresh air breaks can help with motion sickness. So try to stop every couple of hours to let the person get out of the car for a fresh air break. Walking can also help calm the stomach.

  + Chew ginger candy - Ginger can help calm nausea symptoms and help with digestion

  + Suck on sugar-free menthol lozenges - lozenges can produce a soothing, cooling sensation that may provide quick relief from car sickness symptoms.

  + Use an essential oil inhaler - Breathing essential oils like peppermint can help with nausea and headaches.

Conclusion

 Motion sickness doesn’t have to slow your road trip down. Being prepared means you can respond quickly to queasiness, making travel smoother for everyone. Embrace simple strategies like smart snacking, hydration, ginger, and breaks for fresh air. Natural solutions and planning ahead allow you and your loved ones to focus on the joy of the journey, not the discomfort. Keep these tips in mind for your next car adventure. Check out the full line of Three Lollies products for car sickness and morning sickness. 

How To Travel With Food Allergies

 Is it possible to travel when you have food allergies and have to carry an Epipen? Yes, one can travel with food allergies, it just takes some extra planning. Learn how I navigate traveling with multiple food allergies. 

 I love traveling and having multiple food allergies can make traveling difficult at times. A simple thing, like eating while traveling takes planning but I am not going to let that get in my way of exploring new places and having fun. I have many things that I do before my trip to stay safe and avoid the foods that I am allergic to. 

 As I write this article, I am at the airport heading to an event called Expo East. While waiting for my flight, I decided to share with you my tips to safely travel with food allergies. I want to be able to help those who are looking for help navigating the world of travel with food allergies. 

 Expo East is the fall natural products show from New Hope Network. This is a huge event for the natural & organic community to showcase the latest products that are available in stores. The event is all about seeing and trying the latest natural food, beverages, personal care, and supplements.

 I will start by sharing some details about my food issues. I am allergic to dairy, wheat, soy, and mushrooms. My food allergies cause severe asthma attacks so I have to be careful with eating outside of the home. For the most part, I don't eat out at restaurants as I don't feel safe as I have had accidental food allergy exposure several times in the past. 

 So, I bet you are wondering why I would travel to an event where I would be trying food. Expo East is an event where I can learn about food that is allergy-friendly and the brands there are open about the ingredients in the products. While I feel safe attending this natural product event, I still have to take precautions so I don't accidentally eat any of the foods that I am allergic to.

This post may contain affiliate links

10 Things I do to safely travel with food allergies

1. Pack plenty of allergy-friendly food

When I pack for any trip, I always pack plenty of food that I can eat. That way I don't have to buy food at the airport, that may not be safe for me to eat. I also pack healthy food that I can eat for my meals like breakfast. I like to pack vegan protein powder to eat for my breakfast. I also pack nuts, dried fruit, and granola.

2. Stay at a hotel with a kitchen

 I try to stay at a hotel with a kitchen so I can cook my meals. A hotel with a fridge and a microwave is also a good choice. That way I can stock the fridge with food that I can eat and avoid eating out at restaurants.

3. Shop for food when I get to my destination

 After I check into my hotel, I find out where the nearest grocery store is located. I then go shopping for food that I can cook at the hotel for my meals. Good choices for hotel meals, when you don't have a fridge, are cans of tuna, gluten-free crackers, and fresh fruit. Since my hotel has a kitchen with a fridge and microwave, I will buy plant-based milk, frozen dinners, frozen vegetables, and sushi rolls.

4. Exercise in the morning

 I always start my day with exercise for many reasons. Since I have asthma, exercise helps me clear the mucus from my lungs so I can breathe better. Exercise also is great for my mind and it helps me focus better, so I can manage my food allergies. Since I exercise in the morning, I like to fuel my body with a delicious caffeinated energy bar. The snack bars have caffeine in them from green tea, the same amount as a cup of coffee. The bars give me great energy to get my workout done and I don't experience a sugar crash from them like I did when I drank energy drinks.

9 Effective Ways To Clear Mucus For Better Breathing

5. Eat breakfast

 I always start my day with breakfast at the hotel, that way I don't arrive to the event hungry. I can make better food choices when I am not hungry. For breakfast, I drink a protein shake along with some gluten-free cereal an some fresh fruit. My favorite protein to pack for trips is an allergy-friendly plant-based protein powder. I love that this protein is available in travel packs and a small 10-serving size container that is perfect for my travel bag. Nuzest is free of wheat, dairy, soy, and nuts. Each serving has 20 grams of protein so it keeps me full, so I don't go to the event hungry. 

Save 15% on Nuzest with code MOMKNOWSBEST15

6. Always carry my emergency medicines

 My number one rule, when traveling with food allergies, is to always carry my emergency medicines. I have a special travel pouch that is made to hold Epipens. This pouch has plenty of room to hold my Benadryl tablets and other medicines that I might need. That way I am prepared for a food allergy exposure if it accidentally happens. 

7. Ask questions

If you have a food allergy, you need to not be afraid to ask questions about the ingredients in the food. Your life depends on not eating the food that you are allergic to. So speak up and ask questions about what is in the food and how the food is prepared. 

 If I do eat out, I choose to eat at places that serve sushi bowls as they, for the most part, do not contain dairy and they serve plenty of gluten-free options. When I am at the event, I try to sample foods that I am familiar with. I also do not eat any of the wrapped samples, until I can read the ingredient list on the package or visit their website to learn more about the food. 

8. Pack snacks

I also pack plenty of snacks in my bag when I am at the event or out site seeing. That way I have something that I know is safe to eat if I get hungry. My favorite snacks to take on the go are packages of nuts, dried fruit, and protein bars. 

9. Know the signs of accidental ingestion of my food allergies

 It is important to know the signs of accidental exposure to a food that you are allergic to. For me, if I accidentally eat something with dairy, soy, mushrooms, or wheat in it, I have an asthmatic cough. My voice may also change. Once I recognize these signs of food allergy exposure, I take 2 Benadryl and a cup of coffee. This helps keep my airway open so I don't experience any breathing problems. If I have breathing problems, then I will use my Epipen. Thankfully, I have not had to use my EpiPen but it comforts me to know that it is there for emergencies. I have only had one anaphylaxis episode from dairy exposure and that is the reason that the doctor prescribed the EpiPen.

10. Use my natural inhaler

 I always carry my natural inhaler with me when I travel. This inhaler helps open up my airway so I can get the mucus out of my lungs after I have an asthma attack. I also pack menthol lozenges in my bag as they help calm my asthmatic cough.

 These are the many ways that I travel safely with my food allergies. Managing food allergies while traveling can be done. It just takes learning what best works for you. I have been managing my food allergies for 5 years and I am still learning. It was discovering my dairy allergy through a food allergy blood test that has helped me learn how to manage my severe asthma symptoms. 

The past five years have been all about healing my body from food allergies, seasonal allergies, and mold exposure. You can read more about my healing journey through these links.

~ My mold sickness journey

~ My Personal Experience with Allergy Shots

~ Healing my lungs from trauma

Splendid Spoon Healthy Plant Based Meals Are Allergy Friendly Meals

When you have food allergies, you have to always know what is in your food

This post contains affiliate links. While I may earn a small percentage of the sale, this doesn't increase your price.

 I have several food allergies and the main one is dairy. This past month my dairy allergy became life-threatening. I never thought that I would have to worry about my dairy allergy becoming severe enough. Before this food allergy scare, consuming dairy would give me side effects like increased mucus production that led to an annoying cough and a slight breathing issue. I was able to cough the mucus up. 

 Then a couple of weeks ago, I was cutting up fresh jalapenos and I forgot to wear gloves. Nobody told me about wearing gloves. My hands were on fire and washing my hands was not helping. I searched online for ways to stop the burn from the jalapenos. The first method was soaking your hands in milk, so I kept reading to see other methods that would help stop the jalapeno burn. I tried every method but not one of them help with the burn that I was experiencing on my hands. So I took a shower, as the cold water soothed my hands. After my shower, my hands were still on fire. So I gave in and dipped my hands in a bowl of milk. 

 I thought to myself that I would be ok since I was not drinking the milk. Then I went to bed with my hands holding ice packs. An hour later, I woke up gasping for air, I could not breathe. My husband woke up and I told him that I could not breathe. I was scared and I went downstairs to get my phone, to call 911. As I was walking downstairs to get my natural inhaler, I was wheezing and it felt like someone was choking me. Thankfully the walking allowed me to take a small breath. I got my inhaler and tried my best to inhale the essential oils that help open my airways. Then I was able to cough up all the mucus from my body. I took a Benadryl and slept sitting up on the couch that night. My husband stayed near my side all night.

A life-threatening allergy means that I always read food labels 

 That night my dairy allergy became life-threatening and it scared me to know that I could have died from dipping my hands in milk. I could no longer manage my asthma naturally and now carry Benadryl with me always. I also will be making an appointment with an allergist and asthma doctor. That night made me realize that I need to read food labels and question what is in the food before I take a bite.

That is why I like ordering plant-based meals from Splendid Spoon. When I order healthy ready to eat plant-based meals from Splendid Spoon, I know what is in my foods. This company lists all the food ingredients that are in their delicious meals and smoothies, so I can know if the food is safe for me to eat. I like that the ingredient list is short and in easy-to-read print. The best part is the food ingredients are on the food containers.

Nourish your body with plant-based meals, ready in minutes

 Having food allergies means that I have to prepare my meals from scratch. Ordering food for take-out is not a safe option for me. So I like that I can get plant-based meals delivered to my house so I don't always have to cook. Since the meals are plant-based, they don't contain any dairy and I can feel safe eating the meals. 

The best part about ordering meals from Splendid Spoon is these vegan meals are so delicious.  Splendid Spoon creates vegan meals with clean ingredients that are bursting with flavor. This plant-based meal delivery company has so many vegan food options for all your meals. From delicious smoothies to soups and grain meal bowls, Splendid Spoon has over 56 meals. All the tasty meals are made with plant-based ingredients. So you can have healthy meal options for all your meals. 

Get $60 off the most delicious plant-based meals

Low-sugar smoothies to sip for breakfast

 I like starting my day with a smoothie and Splendid Spoon has 19 delicious low sugar smoothies to choose from. These vegan smoothies are packed with superfoods and plenty of protein. My favorite smoothie is the Pumpkin Spice smoothie. This low-sugar protein drink has a delicious pumpkin taste. The Pumpkin Spice Smoothie is part of Splendid Spoon's new Fall flavors.

Check out some of the other tasty smoothie flavors:

~ Mango Guava
~ Cacao Almond Smoothie
~ Mint Chip
~ Blackberry Basil Smoothie
~  Blueberry Coconut
~ Chocolate Cherry

Delicious, veggie-packed grain bowls that take the stress out of “What’s for lunch today?”

 Splendid Spoon has plenty of soup and grain bowls that are perfect for lunch and dinner. These bowls are packed with veggies and plant-based protein. There is plenty of variety as you can select from 33 meal choices. The plant-based bowl meals are ready to eat, all you need to do is heat them up. The new Fall Flavor meals include Roasted Brussel Sprout Bowl with quinoa & currants and Oven-roasted Brussels with tart currants and a dijon-cider sauce. I am a huge fan of Brussel sprouts and these meals were so delicious. The flavor combinations had me licking my bowl clean.

Check out some of the other tasty bowl meals:

~ Roasted Cauliflower Grain Bowl

~ Tuscan White Bean & Tomato Bowl

~ Spiced Lentil & Chickpea Stew Soup

~ Cumin Sweet Potato Puree Soup

How Splendid Spoon works

~ Splendid Spoon is a plant-based meal delivery service that sends you ready-to-eat smoothies, soups, and grain bowls – no cooking required! For the soups and grain bowls, you simply heat them in the microwave or eat them cold. They’re delicious both ways!

~ All of Splendid Spoon’s meals are plant-based, vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free. They also come in packaging that is BPA-free and recyclable!

~ After you select your meal plan, you choose the individual meals that sound good to you. Right now, there are 16 smoothie flavors to choose from and 30 soups/grain bowls to choose from. Each week, you can customize your menu to try new flavors or stick with your old favorites.

~ Your Splendid Spoon package is then shipped via FedEx in a box packed with dry ice so your meals stay nice and cool in transit.

~ Splendid Spoon also makes it easy to pause or cancel your weekly deliveries by logging into your online account.

Perfect for Allergy-Friendly Plant-Based Meals & More

While I love ordering Splendid Spoon meals for easy allergy-friendly meals, these delicious healthy meals are the perfect choice for someone who wants healthy food without having to cook. Life gets busy and having food that is ready to eat is always a good thing. Having food that is nourishing and made with healthy ingredients is even better. These plant-based smoothies and plant-based bowls are perfect for all your meals. They are also perfect for:

~ An easy way to add more veggies and fiber to your diet

~ For a quick lunch or a savory dinner

~ When you’re on the go and need to throw something in your bag

~ For busy moms

~ For lunches at the office

~ For meals while working from home

~ No more frozen meals

~ No more unhealthy take-out food

Get $60 off the most delicious plant-based meals 

Discovering Food and Plant Allergies With imaware At Home Testing

Could your health symptoms be related to a food or plant allergy? Discover a simple at-home blood test that can test for 68 different allergies.

 Many years ago, I had seasonal allergies. I assumed that plants and weeds were the cause of my allergy symptoms because the drippy nose and cough always happened at the start of spring. When winter arrived, my seasonal allergy symptoms went away and I was able to discontinue the allergy medicine. Over-the-counter allergy medicine for the most part kept my seasonal allergy symptoms under control. 

 Then four years ago my allergy cough got worse and started to interfere with my daily life. I had to sleep sitting up and at times felt like I could not catch my breath. I started to wonder, "could it be asthma?" I knew the symptoms of asthma as two of my children have been diagnosed with asthma. While I waited for a doctor's appointment, I did some research and discovered that dairy products could cause asthma. I already was sensitive to things like milk and ice cream so I did a food elimination diet. Removing all dairy from my diet helped and my asthma symptoms got better. Later I discovered that my milk lactose issue was a dairy allergy through a food allergy blood test. 

 I still have many other asthma triggers, some that I know like mold from being allergic to penicillin and others due to things in the air like smoke, dust, and plants. I would love to know which plants I am allergic to so I could avoid them but I have never considered allergy testing for plant allergies as I don't want to be a human pin cushion. Nor do I want to visit an allergy specialist.

Testing for allergies made easy

 Traditional allergy testing requires a doctor's appointment and a skin-prick test. So that means several hours of being poked with needles filled with common allergens. Then to suffer from itchy skin hives. That does not sound fun to me. I have watched several of my children suffer through allergy testing and I will pass. So I was glad to discover an at-home food and respiratory allergy test. 

Quickly test yourself for 68 different allergies

 Not sure what’s causing some irritable symptoms like watery eyes, an itchy throat, and constant sneezing? This easy, wide-ranging test will determine your potential food and respiratory triggers so you can identify treatment options and protect yourself from severe reactions.

 I love that I can get more insight into which plants are making my allergy symptoms flare-up with a simple at-home allergy testing kit. The best part is I don't need to make an appointment with an allergy specialist or a doctor who tests for allergies. I also can avoid painful allergy skin testing. No waiting for a doctor's appointment, which could take months, is awesome!

This test will benefit anyone suffering from symptoms relating to indoor, outdoor, animal, insect, or food allergens.

 One simple finger prick is all it takes to have my blood tested for 28 food allergens and 40 specific respiratory allergens. So through this blood allergy test, I may discover not only the plants that I am allergic to but also if I am allergic to any other foods. So once I get my allergy testing results, I can avoid the food that may be triggering my asthma.

Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. with more than 50 million Americans affected each year.

 The imaware™ allergy test measures your Immunoglobulin E (IgE) which is an antibody that's produced by the body’s immune system in response to a perceived threat. This information can be immensely helpful in understanding which allergens may be causing undesired symptoms, so you can better prepare for allergy seasons and proactively reduce exposure at home. Even the presence of insects like cockroaches and dust mites can trigger an allergic reaction because their remains can survive even after they die.

+ CLIA Certified Labs: Laboratories are based in the United States, and CLIA  & CAP certified.

+ Physician Reviewed: Results are physician-reviewed once the sample has been processed.

+ Secure Data: We use industry-grade encryption to ensure your data is always protected.

Common allergy symptoms to watch for:

Allergic reactions can vary widely in both type and severity depending on the person and allergy. The following symptoms are strong indications that you should get tested:

+ Itchy or watery eyes

+ Sneezing and/or coughing

+ Periodic or persistent itching, hives

+ Congestion

+ Persistent diarrhea

+ Difficulty breathing

+ Nausea or vomiting

How it works

The at-home allergy test from imaware is a 3-step testing process and no appointment is necessary. Just order your home health kit online, collect & mail back your sample, then review your physician verified results online in less than a week.

 The food and respiratory test is just one of many at-home testing kits that you can purchase. This website offers a wide variety of at-home blood tests to help you detect & analyze your physical wellbeing. Last year, I purchased a home testing kit to check my cholesterol and I loved how simple it was to take a sample of my blood for the testing.  

It takes four simple tests to get the health results that you need.

1. Draw 5 drops of blood

2. Collect in the collection device

3. Secure and return the sample

4. Check your results online

What’s the benefit of early testing?

Identifying your allergies early can help reduce exposure to triggers and protect yourself from potentially severe reactions. This knowledge will also help you understand and pursue targeted treatment options that are available to improve your condition and reduce your risk. Periodically measuring your IgE levels will also allow you to monitor the effectiveness of your immunotherapy treatment.

 Testing for allergies means I can avoid the things that trigger my asthma so I can continue to manage my asthma without prescription medicine. I like to avoid harsh medicines with side effects and want to manage asthma symptoms naturally. So purchasing a home blood test kit to discover items that I am allergic to is a smart move.

Did you know most illnesses can be prevented through proactive screening?  

But every year, millions of Americans avoid traditional lab testing because it can be costly and inconvenient. Our mission is to help everyone gain access to easy and affordable at-home tests, so together we can prevent life-altering conditions and disease.

Get more information about imaware home screening test HERE

 Getting the sample of my blood was easy and I sent off my collection kit to be processed. I will update this post once I get the results back.

Update: My test results

When I received my allergy test results, I was surprised at the results. The blood allergy test was spot on for my mold allergy and showed it to be in the high range. The plants that I was sensitive to were Russian Thistle, Ryegrass, Alder, Maple elder, Maple leaf, Mugwort, Nettle, and Pigweed. The Russian Thistle - Tumbleweed, made perfect sense as we have plenty of that here in our yard. So I will make sure to wear my long gloves and pull the Tumbleweed when it first blooms. 

What surprised me about my testing was that I was sensitive to mouse urine, good thing that we don't have problems with mice in our house. Now the most surprising results were my food allergy testing. It revealed that I am allergic to cashews and tomatoes but not to milk. Food allergy testing can have false positives and false negatives as explained HERE. So it is important to do a food elimination diet with food allergies. 

 A food elimination diet can confirm food allergies. It was the elimination of dairy that made my severe asthma symptoms improve. If I eat a tiny bit of dairy, I have an asthma attack so I know that I am allergic to dairy. The other day I ate some candy with lactose in it and my whole body started itching. For the false positives, my son's allergist said to eat the food as long as it does not give you any problems. Next time I eat tomatoes or cashews, I will pay attention to see if I have any asthma symptoms.

Get more information about imaware home screening test HERE

At Home Screening Tests With Imaware ~ No Doctor Approval Needed

 I am an affiliate with imaware

Skip the doctor and screen for food allergies, diseases, and more

 I remember over two years ago when I started experiencing severe asthma attacks but did not yet realize that I had asthma. It all started in the summer of 2017 when my seasonal allergies got worse and I was feeling out of breath when I was exercising. My seasonal allergies were causing me to cough a lot. I thought that maybe more of the weeds that I was allergic to were growing. I also thought that getting older was the reason that I was out of breath when exercising. When fall came, the time that my outdoor allergies would normally get better, and the bad cough did not go away that I started to think ~ could this be asthma?  I started to think that I was experiencing an asthmatic cough. 

My asthma got worse

 The next year my health took a turn for the worse. I starting experiencing a real bad cough, one that made it hard to breathe. It was January so I thought that I had a bad cold. When the cough did not go away and I had to sleep sitting up, I knew something was not right with my body. This cough would leave me gasping for air and I began to question even more that I had asthma. I knew that I needed to make a doctor's appointment but at the same time, I knew that getting an appointment with a doctor could take a while. So I tried to ignore this bad asthmatic cough and started Googling things. Online searching led me to that dairy products could trigger asthma symptoms. I already was sensitive to milk and could not eat ice cream or drink milk without feeling sick to my stomach. 

 What I did not realize at that time that my use of whey-based protein powder and nightly snack of cheese and crackers was causing me to have severe asthma attacks. I, not willingly, eliminated all dairy from my diet. In a couple weeks, my cough went away. I still did not believe that I had a dairy allergy so I decided to get a food allergy blood test to determine if I was allergic to milk products. The blood test result confirmed that I was allergic to all dairy products and the cause of my severe breathing problems.  

Food allergy testing from the comfort of your home

 Back in 2018, I went to a lab to get my food allergy testing done. If it was the year 2020, I probably would have not felt safe going to a medical lab, let alone a doctor's office. Not because of the COVID virus but because of all the disinfectant products that are being used, as the chemicals trigger an asthma attack. I took my son to the dentist the other day and my asthma flared up from sitting inside the exam room for 10 minutes.   

 So I am glad that I discover a place that allows you to perform health screens from the comfort of your own home. Imaware™  sends everything that you need to safely complete a health test at home with no need to see a doctor. This at-home health testing company has tests available from allergy testing to celiac testing. They even have COVID-19 testing.    

 As you probably know, COVID-19 has forced many people to re-look at their own health and put their own metaphorical oxygen mask on first. At imaware™ they make it easy for someone to order a test and complete a test - all at home - with just a few drops of blood. Imaware is an at-home health testing company that empowers patients to put health back into their own hands.

So much more than food allergy testing

This at-home health testing company came into the market many years ago and were known for their at-home celiac disease screening test, they have since grown so much and now offer health screening tests for the following health conditions:

~ Overall baseline health tests: Women’s Health & Wellness, Men’s Health & Wellness

~ Autoimmune diseases like celiac disease and rheumatoid arthritis

~ IgE allergies (unlike the food sensitivity screenings you see that are not recommended by allergists)

~ Prostate cancer (PSA) screening

~ Baseline Heart Health and pre-diabetes testing

~ Specialized cardiovascular screening and more!

Available online at imaware, imaware™ is a convenient and reliable at-home blood testing solution. Easy-to-use collection kits and accurate online results empower you to take control of your health.

 Will I need to see a doctor?

 With imaware, there is no need for a doctor's approval. You don't see to see a doctor or have a doctor write a prescription for the health test. So there is no need to call your doctor or schedule a doctor's appointment. So you can do your health screening at home and get the results that you need without ever seeing a doctor.

What about medical insurance?  

 If you don't have medical insurance, no worries as imaware is affordable and does not use medical insurance. You order the tests you want and pay for them with a credit card, all safely online.

What will the tests tell me?

~ The easy to read and actionable lab reports will help you understand:

~ Whether you may have the condition

~ How likely you are to have the condition

~ How to engage your healthcare professional

~ How to track your health and progress over time

Get more information about imaware home screening test HERE

Is the testing accurate?

 All of the laboratories that imaware uses are based in the US and CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988) and CAP College of American Pathologists) certified. This standard ensures that lab sample processing is reviewed and audited to the highest standards.

How Does The Test Work?

 The health screening tests are easy to perform and you can do everything at home. It takes four simple tests to get the health results that you need.

1. Draw 5 drops of blood

2. Collect in the collection device

3. Secure and return the sample

4. Check your results online

My results with imaware at-home health screening

 Since I already knew that I was allergic to dairy and milk products, I had no need for additional food allergy testing. My last food blood allergy testing also confirmed that I was allergic to soy and mushrooms. So I decided to order a  Women's Health & Wellness Test to check how my overall health was. I liked that this blood test checked my vitamin D levels and cholesterol, along with many other important health conditions. I wanted to know how my health was so I could be aware of any health problems that may require me to visit a doctor.

 It was kind of easy to perform the health test and I only had to fast for 8 hours. Poking my finger with the lancet was the easy part. I had a hard time squeezing the blood out of my finger, so I am glad that the kit came with 2 lancets. After I got the blood on the device,  I sent the test packet back through UPS in a prepaid envelope. Then in 7 days, I got the results. I really liked how detailed the heath test results were. I was happy to see my test results in the comfort of my home. I discovered that my vitamin D was a healthy range, must be my daily sunshine, and the supplement that I am taking. My cholesterol was also fine as well as the other items that the test checked in my blood. These blood results encouraged me to keep up my healthy habits.

Did you know most illnesses can be prevented through proactive screening?  

But every year, millions of Americans avoid traditional lab testing because it can be costly and inconvenient. Our mission is to help everyone gain access to easy and affordable at-home tests, so together we can prevent life-altering conditions and disease.

Get more information about imaware home screening test HERE

Dairy Free Soft Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

 These are the absolute BEST Homemade Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies! Soft, moist, and loaded with fresh pumpkin flavor and sweet chocolate chips. They taste just like the ones from the grocery store bakery.

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 Having a dairy allergy can be annoying at times, and it can make grocery shopping a challenge. I have to be a label reader at the store when shopping so I avoid buying something with a milk ingredient in it. That means I avoid food items with milk, butter, cream, etc. I have to be careful to avoid any dairy ingredients in my food, as eating dairy can cause me to be nauseated or have an asthma attack. 

The one section of the store that I avoid going into is the bakery section, as most sweet bakery items have dairy ingredients in them, and the labels can be hard to read. Why do they put the ingredient label on the bottom of the container? In order for me to read the ingredients, I have to turn the container over, and that can not be done without damaging the bakery item. So to avoid an allergy attack, I just make my own allergy-friendly baked goods at home. Since I don't always have time to bake, that helps with the number of sweets that I consume.

Pumpkin cookies were calling my name

  
  I was at the store the other day, and I did my best to walk fast past the bakery section so I would not get tempted to buy unsafe cookies. I go past the produce section and there on an end cap display were pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. You know the soft, moist, fresh pumpkin cookies that the store sells around Thanksgiving.

 I guess these cookies are so delicious and popular that they decided to sell them in July. I started drooling over the cookies and could almost taste them, but I did not pick up a package of the cookies as I did not want to suffer later from eating them. My kids hate that I don't buy cookies anymore, but I can't have them in the house or I may eat one. The only sweets that I buy are granola bars and ice cream. When I buy these sweets, I make sure to pick up a dairy-free version for myself so I don't touch the ones with milk in them. My favorite dairy-free ice cream is made with coconut milk.

Soft Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies are

+ Soft

+ Moist

+ Dairy-Free

+ Loaded with vitamin A

+ Delicious

+ Full of flavor

+ Easy to make

+ Perfect for fall

+ Great with pumpkin spice coffee

Get my recipe for a healthy pumpkin bread HERE

Had to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

 When I got home from grocery shopping, I still had those moist, decadent chocolate chip pumpkin cookies on my mind and I had to bake some cookies. So I pulled out my dairy-free recipe for dairy-free cookies. I was glad that I still had a can of pumpkin in my pantry that was left over from Thanksgiving. I also remembered that I still had a package of Swerve sweetener in my pantry from the last time I made Healthy Homemade Peanut Butter Granola. This zero-calorie sweetener is my favorite to bake with as it makes my baked goods low-sugar. This sweetener tastes so close to sugar and my family can not tell the difference when I substitute this sweetener for white sugar. I like using Swerve sweetener when I bake, as it makes my baked goods lower in calories and sugar. Then my treats are a bit healthier. I also tried a new vanilla extract in this recipe and it had an amazing pure vanilla taste.

Check out this Dairy Free Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Coffee Latte Recipe! 

Love my pink stand mixer

 Last year I gave in and bought myself a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer and it was the best decision that I ever made. I had been going back and forth for a long time about whether I should buy a stand mixer as it was kind of pricey. I'm glad I finally decide to buy a Kitchenaid mixer and I keep asking myself why I waited so long to buy one. I thought why purchase a stand mixer when I am able to mix things by hand. I found out that a Kitchenaid mixer is the best appliance for baking and more. The stand mixer saves me so much time when making cookies so I now make cookies more often. This pink stand mixer does all the mixing for me including creaming the butter. My 11-year-old son can now make cookies without my help. I bought the Artisan mini Kitchenaid mixer in bubblegum pink but the Kitchenaid Guava Glaze color is so similar. If you are not a fan of pink this mixer comes in so many pretty colors. You can even personalize your mixer with decals. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CHOCOLATE CHIP PUMPKIN COOKIES

Can I use fresh pumpkin instead of canned? I don't recommend using fresh pumpkin as it will make the cookies too moist and undercooked as fresh pumpkin has more water in it.
  
Can I double the pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe? I always double the recipe so I can use up the whole can of pumpkin. A can of pumpkin has two cups in it, by doubling the recipe you get more cookies and no leftover pumpkin to be discovered rotten weeks later in the back of the fridge.

Can I use a replacement for vegetable oil? You can use other oils like canola, coconut oil, corn oil, and even olive oil.

Can I refrigerate the dough overnight before baking? If you are short on time and can bake the cookies right away, refrigerating the cookie dough is fine. It may result in a different texture but the taste will still be just as delicious.

Can I make the cookies vegan? To make the cookies vegan, just use an egg substitute. Check out these 11 egg substitute recipes for baking and more! 

Can I make the cookies low-fat? You can make the cookies lower in fat by substituting applesauce or mashed banana for the vegetable oil. This may result in a different taste but the cookies will still be delicious.

Can I make the cookies with less sugar? I make my cookies lower in sugar all the time with a zero-calorie sweetener that has a taste similar to sugar, and it measures just like white sugar. In my opinion, this low-calorie sweetener has a sweeter taste than sugar so I use 3/4 cups instead of one cup of white sugar. My favorite zero-calorie sweetener even has varieties of brown sugar and confectioners' (powder) sugar.

Check out Baking Hacks For Better Baking
https://www.momknowsbest.net/2019/07/baking-hacks-for-better-baking.html

OPTIONAL ADD-INS FOR PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE RECIPE
 For a different taste or extra protein, the following can be added to the cookie dough when you mix in the chocolate chips, about 1/2 to 1 cup.

+ Walnuts
+ Pecans
+ Pumpkin seeds
+ Sunflower seeds
+ Cinnamon chips
+ White chocolate chips
+ Dried cranberries
+ Flax seeds
+ Chia seeds

If you like this recipe, be sure to Pin It on Pinterest!

These are the absolute BEST Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies! Soft, moist, and loaded with fresh pumpkin flavor and sweet chocolate chips.