This past year was by far the most life changing of any of my 20 something before it, which is why it is so fitting that in the final months of 2015, a health struggle I’ve been battling for the past 6 years finally came to a close. And believe it or not, I have liver and the wonderful folks from Vital Proteins to thank. And because they are so awesome, keep reading this post to see how you can win an awesome gift of my favorite Vital Proteins products!

Those of you who have been following me for long probably understand my passion for the healing power of food and my excitement over creating meals that are not only tasty (if I do say so myself) but also nourishing. Since finding Paleo, leaving behind years of vegetarianism and over endurance training, and focusing on stress reduction and the power of play, my life has changed in ways I never could have imagined – from increased energy, strength, and joy to a new life path and even a home in a new state. But there was one crucial piece of the puzzle that had yet to fall into place – a piece that was becoming increasingly important as my husband and I started to plan for a family and for our future.

For the last almost 6 years, I had no period. None. Zilch. Nada.

Amenorrhea (lack of period) can come on for many reasons, and it often stumps doctors from all disciplines. My case was no different. It is something that many women struggle with and that can lead to great frustration as test after test comes back “normal” without any telling results or answers. My case was no different, and after trying seemingly everything, I had resigned to waiting it out. I had completely changed my diet, reduced exercise, increased carbohydrates, and tried detoxes, acupuncture, and herbs. And while each helped me in its own way, I was still left with no signs of a menstruation and with a sinking feeling in my gut that I couldn’t ignore.

A woman’s cycle is a sign of true health, a sign that her body is well enough to carry a pregnancy and to provide for that child once he or she comes into the world. Whether or not a woman wants to get pregnant, this natural function of life (after puberty and pre menopause) is a telltale sign of health. And I didn’t have it. I, a nutrition consultant, CrossFit trainer, “epitome” of health was missing this basic female function and it tore me up inside. That is until liver came into my life to stay, and I am not just talking about the occasional pâté, which I actually love; I am talking about a regular, daily, healthy serving of grass fed liver that I could get in easily without fail. How you might wonder? Through the flavorless, crap-less, grass fed liver pills from Vital Proteins. After just one month of taking Vital Proteins liver pills on a daily basis, I was greeted with a beautiful surprise, one that I will never again take for granted. That extra nourishment provided in these whole food pills, provided my body with the final pieces of the puzzle. And let me tell you why…

Liver from pastured cows is:

• An excellent source of high-quality protein, something I had been lacking from years as a vegetarian
• The most concentrated source of vitamin A found in nature, which plays a vital role in bone growth, reproduction and immune system health
• All the B vitamins in abundance, particularly vitamin B12, which keeps your nerves and red blood cells healthy and is responsible for the smooth functioning of several critical body processes
• One of our best sources of folic acid, which is critical for women wanting to conceive and is so often put into pre-natals in the synthetic form of folate (which is NOT the same and can actually cause some problems)
• A highly usable form of iron, again something I was not getting enough of without animal protein in my diet for so long
• Trace elements such as copper, zinc and chromium
• High in CoQ10, which is and nutrient loaded with antioxidants that the body uses to produce energy for cell growth and maintenance
• A good source of purines, nitrogen-containing compounds that serve as precursors for DNA and RNA

Basically, liver contains more nutrients, gram for gram, than any other food. And for those of you who cannot imagine eating liver on a regular basis but could really benefit from the whole food nourishment this superfood has to provide, these pills have the power to be life changing. I’ve seen the benefits first hand. Even a whole foods based, nourishing diet can still need supplementation, and these liver pills serve as a real food supplement for a food that humans have enjoyed for thousands of years, until now when all we want is muscle meat.

So, do your body a favor and give these pills a try. As you know I only (and will forever only) post about products and companies I truly believe in, and this is no different. Vital Proteins has helped change my life for the better, offering products that work seamlessly into a whole food, nourishing diet. I look forward to bringing you all on my journey towards starting a family in the next year or two (no, not just yet), and here is where the shared journey begins – with my daily dose of liver pills.

Side note: Vital Proteins also happens to make my other favorite (and only other) supplement. There’s been a ton of buzz as of late surrounding collagen protein. Vital Proteins makes the only one I use, and I use it every single day. Made from the collagen of grass fed cows, uber nutrient dense and healing (see here for more on that), I’ve found that this is my other secret (well, now the cats out of the bag) weapon towards recovery, health, and longevity. In fact, I traveled for a week this month and sadly forgot my travel sized Vital Proteins container (and was out of my liver pills). The whole week prior, my husband had been battling a bug of some sort, and I was totally fine. A little travel and no secret weapons, and what do you know? I got sick. As soon as I got home, I had tea with peptides and a serving of liver pills, slept a ton, and within a day, I was back to healthy. The power of whole foods to keep us well should not go under appreciated, and when supplements that can be taken this easily are made from whole foods, well, it’s a win-win.

So it’s time to talk {G I V E A W A Y}! Vital Proteins and I are teaming up to bring you an awesome gift package of my two favorite products. You have until Friday, 1/29/16, so get to it!

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Cheers to healing your body and to this journey that never ends, but just keeps getting better. Live rad, my friends!

♡ Laura