This might seem a bit weird to talk about in a style post, but food intolerance has been the bane of my existence for the past ten years. Seriously, it’s been that long and THAT annoying. I knew certain things were making me feel sick, but I had no idea what they were. I made educated guesses, of course, trying everything from eliminating gluten to avoiding eggs. But the problems still persisted. What was it??? I was helped so much by what I found, I wanted to share it on this blog.
My good friend Dawn McCarthy introduced me to Pinnertest. It’s an at-home finger stick lab test performed with blood to help determine your food intolerances. Thanks to the advanced technology, only a few drops of dry blood are needed to perform it, so it’s actually super easy and fast. You simply use the finger prick device included, dab a few drops of blood on the special paper provided, and send it in to the Pinnertest lab. I previously looked into have one of these food allergy/intolerance tests at my allergy doctor, but it cost upwards of $1800. (Plus, it took several hours!) My Pinnertest honestly took less than ten minutes total.
I asked my Mom to do the finger prick for me, but you could easily do it yourself. I sealed my kit, sent it in, and they notified me when my kit was received. I got the results about 7 business days later. They email an easy to understand PDF report which tells you exactly which foods to avoid and ranks it by low, moderate, or high reactions. I was SHOCKED by mine. I assumed it was eggs and dairy making me sick, or at the very least, all breads. As it turns out, it wasn’t at all what I expected. My test revealed I have an intolerance for spelt (moderate), peanuts (high), pinto beans (moderate), coconut (low), and cinnamon (moderate). I was completely surprised! I eat peanuts, coconut, and cinnamon on a regular basis, and for a while, I was buying spelt bread for my morning toast. Who knew?!
If you’re curious to know what you may be intolerant of but don’t want to spend thousands on office tests, I highly recommend Pinnertest. It will save you a crazy amount of money, and you still get results that help you manage what you should be consuming. After all, food intolerance can lead to weight gain, sugar cravings, and serotonin deficiency….and ain’t nobody got time for that. If you decide to give it a try, you’ll receive FREE worldwide shipping and $60 OFF of your kit with Promo Code HILARY.
Okay, on to the simple and amazing products that I’m crushing on. I’ve been aware of Perricone MD for a long time; I’d seen the products at Sephora and even watched a TV special about it. This is the first time I’ve actually tried the products, and they are definitely worth checking out. Here’s the rundown:
- Pre-empt Series Daily Brightening Moisturizer: this is a light-weight formula (hallelujah!) that hydrates, protects with SPF, and brightens the skin. If you look at the photo above, you can see that the formula has a slight tint that minimizes imperfections and doesn’t leave a greasy, white residue like many SPF moisturizers. I found that it’s perfect for those days that I don’t want to wear a full face of makeup, but still want UV protection.
- Pre-empt Refreshing Shower Mask: this is the ultimate way to enjoy the spa-like benefits of a mask without the downtime. I use this cooling gel mask in the shower…it protects my face from damaging effects of hot water, but uses that steam to soften my skin. It’s a serious time saver and easy way to remember to use a mask on a regular basis!
- Pre-empt The Fixer Solid Oil: Oils can be greasy and feel awkward. Not this one. It’s an oil-gel that transforms from solid to oil. And heck, it isn’t just for those dry knees and elbows. I use it on hair flyaways, unruly eyebrows, and rough cuticles. Pretty awesome.
- Travel Booster: This is a supplement with 10 types of organic mushrooms found in different parts of the world. It helps increase your immunity while traveling, and consequently increases your circulation. This has quickly become my must-have travel bag addition. (I used to always get sick after traveling on planes, so now I can prevent it!)
Enjoy the rest of your day…I’ll be back on Thursday!
Photography: S. Jackson
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