Valentine's Day is a great time to shown your skin the love it deserves.

Valentine's Day is a day of expressing love for those you appreciate in your life - but while you’re at it take this time to pamper yourself and show your skin some love too. Here are a few tips that will make you feel confident and help you glow from head-to-toe.

Start off with a clean slate by giving your skin a thorough cleansing. Use a gentle, non-stripping cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and makeup. This will prepare your skin to better absorb any products you use afterwards and ensure that you're not clogging your pores.

Next, it’s time to exfoliate! Exfoliating removes dead skin cells and reveals a brighter, smoother complexion. This Hibiscus Mask & Scrub is a great 2-in-1 product that was designed to both exfoliate and nourish the skin. You can either gently massage into your skin and rinse or, if you have a little extra time, leave it on for 10-15 minutes to give your skin a more potent dose of antioxidants and vitamins to combat environmental stresses. Suitable for all skin types, your skin will feel softer, smoother, and look more radiant.

Exfoliating removes dead skin cells and reveals a brighter, smoother complexion.

After your mask, it's time to apply your other favorite skin care products. This includes serum and moisturizer. Whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin, using these products can help target these problem areas. Look for a serum with a blend of antioxidants, plant extracts, and essential oils, which are said to help improve the appearance of the skin. After applying a few drops, follow up with a hydrating moisturizer. This is especially important for those of us with drier skin.

Show your body some love too. Your skin care doesn't need to stop at your face. Give yourself a full-body treatment and show it the love it deserves. Finish up your day of self care by applying a delicate body lotion that will leave you feeling soft and hydrated. Pay special attention to areas like your elbows, knees, and heels, which tend to be drier.

Life gets busy, making it hard to take care of your skin on a daily basis but Valentine's Day is a great time to show your skin some extra love and attention. By cleansing, exfoliating, hydrating, and using the right products for your skin type and concerns, you can achieve a glowing, healthy complexion. With these tips, you'll be ready to celebrate Valentine's Day feeling confident and beautiful.

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At Life’s Abundance, we found a way to include our furry friends in on our sustainability mission.

When you’re shopping at the grocery store for your favorite cut of meat, you might see anything from prime rib and chuck roast to tenderloin or top round. It may seem like a lot of the animal is being utilized, but there are actually many body parts that Americans aren’t accustomed to eating and ultimately end up going to waste.

So, what’s to be done about it? At Life’s Abundance, sustainability is something we work hard on factoring into many of our processes so we found a way to include our furry friends in on our mission. We offer a variety of treats that use the body parts of an animal that would otherwise go to waste. In fact, one of our dog treat vendors previously owned a farm where animals were raised solely for human consumption. After realizing the amount of waste that was resulting in this, they started utilizing those extra parts for dog treats. This included pig snouts and cow ears - which might sound familiar if your pup is a fan of our Porky Puffs and Premium Cow Ears.

We offer a variety of treats that use the body parts of an animal that would otherwise go to waste.

Working with vendors like these have aligned our goals of prioritizing sustainability as well as providing the best for your pet. And let’s face it - dogs love pure meat, so single-ingredient treats like these are bound to be on their list of tail-wagging favorites. 

Here are all of our single-ingredient treats that foster sustainability in this way and would otherwise be considered waste by other suppliers:

• Porky Puffs
• Premium Cow Ears
• Bison Kidney Freeze-Dried Treats
• Bison Liver Freeze-Dried Treats
• Turkey Hearts Freeze-Dried Treats
• Water Buffalo Lungs
• Water Buffalo Bully Sticks

When you shop with Life’s Abundance, you’re not just providing high quality products to your family and furry friends’ for their wellbeing, you’re helping the planet. Sustainability has always been a huge part of our purpose so whether it’s installing solar panels at our headquarters, reducing waste in how we package your orders or getting the most out of the source ingredients we use for our dog treats - we’re always looking for ways to better our environment.

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Science has found that taking a multivitamin each day may give your mood a natural boost. 

Have you ever wondered what exactly a multivitamin does for your body? It's a common supplement that many people take, but do you really know what it's supposed to do and whether it actually works?

First off, let's define a multivitamin. It's essentially a supplement that contains a combination of vitamins and minerals. The idea behind taking one each morning is that it can help fill in any nutritional gaps in your diet and ensure that you're getting all of the nutrients your body needs to function properly. But do they really live up to their claims? Let's take a closer look.  

What a Multivitamin Can (and Can’t) Do 

Let’s face it, even the best multivitamin can’t completely counterbalance the effects of eating fast food for every meal. But what it can do is help make up for the gaps that even the healthiest diet may present.

Some studies have found that people who take them regularly have a lower risk of developing chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. In addition, certain groups of people may benefit from taking a multivitamin. For example, pregnant women may benefit from one that contains folic acid, as it's important for the development of the fetal brain and spine. Older adults may also benefit from taking a multivitamin, because they may be at a higher risk of nutrient deficiencies due to changes in their body's ability to absorb nutrients.

While this is all excellent for the body, science now suggests that multivitamins may offer additional benefits - specifically for the mind.

Give your diet a daily boost with all the nutrients you need and none of the extras that you don't.

Memory and Cognitive Health 

Good news for those who don’t quite have the best memory - a multivitamin may help. A recent study found that taking a daily multivitamin may actually improve your cognitive health. In fact, in a blind study of over 2,250 adults over 65, those who took multivitamins daily for three years appeared to experience 60% less cognitive decline than those who took a placebo. 

While more research is needed to solidify this exciting new link, previous studies seem to back up its findings. They have also suggested that multivitamins may be able to improve memory and brain activity in seniors as well.

Mood Benefits

Feeling a little down? A lack of vitamins and proper nutrition has long been linked with not only physical but psychological illnesses. Science has found that taking a multivitamin each day may give your mood a natural boost. 

Even better, researchers have found that multivitamins and supplements may have the ability to decrease stress and fight depression in people of all ages. Know anyone who could use a little less stress in their life? 

Is Taking a Multivitamin Right for You?

Don’t get us wrong – if you think you may be suffering from a mental health issue, then a trip to Vitamin Shoppe® is no substitute for a visit to your healthcare professional. But if you’re looking for a way to supplement a healthy diet, then investing in a good multivitamin may be a great choice for you.

It’s important to keep in mind, however, that not every multivitamin is created equal. Some may only contain minimal vitamins and nutrients, while others may throw in every ingredient in the book. This is where a little knowledge in proper label reading can go a long way!

Finding the Perfect Multivitamin Balance 

We realize just how tricky it can be to find a multivitamin that doesn’t over or underdo it. That’s why we created our own Multivitamin, which contains the right blend of essential vitamins and extracts.

Delivered in veggie capsules with no magnesium stearate, you can rest assured that our multivitamins are non-GMO, gluten-free, and contain no artificial flavors or preservatives. Give your diet a daily boost with all the nutrients you need and none of the extras that you don't.

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Don't Be D-Railed By Short Winter Days

Life's Abundance is fueled by a passion for helping families live longer, happier, healthier lives.

In a long-awaited update, on December 23, 2022, the FDA updated a statement about their investigation into the suspected relationship between certain diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Here are the key takeaways you should know:

• Their conclusion is that there’s insufficient data to establish a causal relationship between DCM in dogs and the food they were eating.
• After a drastically declining amount of consumer reports, they’re no longer releasing any further public updates.
• The FDA encourages continued scientific and academic research into DCM.
• They refer pet owners to seek nutritional guidance from their veterinarian.

With the declining amount of reports, they’re no longer releasing any further public updates.

In 2018, in the original statement, the FDA was investigating a potential link between certain diets that frequently contained a high proportion of peas, lentils, other legumes, and/or potatoes in various forms as main ingredients, primarily grain free diets, and DCM in dogs due to an increasing number of consumer reports. 

Later on in 2019, they named the top reported 16 pet food brands that were being fed to dogs reported to have DCM. Life’s Abundance, thankfully, wasn’t on this list and our foods weren’t the subject of an FDA investigation. 

How To Know Which Food To Trust

At Life’s Abundance we’re fueled by our passion for helping families, including pets, live longer, happier, healthier lives. You and your family are at the top of our minds as we develop products, select ingredients, choose suppliers and answer your questions. In fact, there are quite a few things that set us apart:

Authenticity: Our formulas are based on proven science, we don’t buy into fads and marketing gimmicks. And, because we’re proactive in our approach, we were among the first to include guaranteed probiotics in our foods.
Guaranteed Taurine: We guarantee minimum amounts of taurine in all of our dry dog foods. Though this nutrient isn’t required by AAFCO, we’ve always found it to be  an important and beneficial supplement in our dog foods.
Regular Testing: We regularly test all of our dry foods. Some tests are standard protocol and some go above and beyond standard requirements. For example, after the 2018 FDA report indicated that there may be a link between DCM in dogs and taurine deficiency, we re-tested taurine levels in all of our dry dog food diets. Then, later that year we re-tested Vitamin D after a series of recalls by other brands due to an excess of this nutrient. In all cases, we remain vigilant about the safety of our products.
Proven Results: For over two decades families like yours have trusted us to provide the best nutrition for their pets. Generations of dogs and cats have thrived on our products and thousands of pet parents have shared their satisfaction with our products through thousands of reviews.
Feeding Trials: We recognize the importance of standardized, scientific testing and the value of feeding trials. We’ve successfully completed trials on half of our dry dog foods and we’re in the process to trial the rest.
Quick Notification System: We’re thrilled with the fact that we’ve never had a recall on our foods, but, what thrills customers the most is our Quick Notification System. Because of the direct relationship we have with customers, in the event there’s ever an issue with a product, this unique system affords you the luxury of being notified immediately.

We hope you’ll try one of our Life’s Abundance foods for your furry friends. If you’re already feeding our kibble, you can remain confident in your choice and our commitment to helping families, including pets, live long, healthy lives!

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So this is the year you’re really going to reach your wellness goals, right?  Starting your health journey - or restarting in some cases - might be on that list and we know it can be overwhelming to constantly think of a menu of healthy options to eat. So, we’ve gathered a few of our favorite quick and easy recipes to help you spend less time cooking and more time feasting.

Frozen Berry Bites

Frozen Berry Bites are a great on-the-go snack for the whole family.

Ready to have the whole family join in on the “healthy eating” journey? These Frozen Berry Bites require no time in the oven and are quick and easy to make with the kids. And, with our nutrient-packed Greens Blend in the mix, this will help everyone achieve their 5-9 servings of fruits and veggies. Whip this up for easy, on-the-go snacks, or when you’re craving a scoop of ice cream after dinner. 

Cherry Lemonade Recipe

Cherry Lemonade keeps you hydrated with a nutrient-packed punch.

As you gear up to start heading to the gym more often, you might be tempted to grab an energy drink on the way out the door. Make the smarter, less-sugary decision by making this five ingredient recipe including our Minerals & Antioxidants. The best part is you can make it in advance and store it in the fridge for up to five days, so you can have it ready to go on those extra sleepy mornings. 

Vanilla Pro-tains

Vanilla Pro-tains make for a delicious, sweet breakfast or side.

We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not make it count with a delicious, yet healthy, recipe? All you need are three ingredients and you’ll be able to make this quickly on a stove top or in an air fryer. Plantains are already packed with nutrients, but with our Vanilla Plant Protein, you’ll get an extra protein punch.

Have an easy, healthy recipe? Share your go-to below!

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Your pet will always cherish any quality time you spend with them. 

Every January, New Year’s Resolutions are on many people’s minds. Maybe you plan on reading more, eating healthier, or spending more time with family, but what about our pets? Do our sweet fur babies even have their own resolutions for the new year? If cats and dogs could talk, here are some resolutions we think they’d declare along with some ideas on how we, their humans, can help them achieve them:

Eat Healthier

Lots of us pledge to lose weight or eat healthier when January rolls around. Why should our pets be any different? If your dog has packed on a few extra pounds over this last year, help them reach their goal of slimming down by feeding them our Adult Weight Loss food.

Exercise More

Ever been to the gym at the beginning of January? Every machine is taken, and every corner is full of people trying their best to ditch the ten pounds of cookies and cocktails they might have gained over the holidays. And while pet gyms aren’t a thing…yet, you can encourage more active and fit pets by engaging them in regular playtime and activity.

Laser pointers or feather wands are almost guaranteed to get cats motivated to jump around. For dogs, be sure to take them on multiple walks and play fetch with their favorite ball. All of these activities will help you and your pet bond, while also keeping them trim and fit.

Getting some exercise with your pet is a great way to keep them fit.

Level Up On Looks

There’s something about the start of the year that has us all wanting to look our best - whether that's with the help of a new jacket or a fresh haircut. If your pet is also looking for a fresh new ‘coat’ to show off on their next visit to the local dog park, you can help them out by keeping them looking clean and smelling fresh, with products like our Revitalizing Shampoo for dogs and cats.

Spend Time With the Ones You Love

At the heart of it all, people and pets alike want the chance to spend quality time with the ones they love the most. Because when it comes down to it, what’s the point of us or our pets having resolutions to slim down, tone up, or glam out if we don’t have anyone to share it with?

We’re the center of our pet’s universe, and more often than not, they’re the center of ours. So, carve out time to spend with them, whether it’s taking a long walk, playing with a favorite toy, or snuggling up on the couch together to watch a classic movie. We promise it’s time well spent that you’re both sure to cherish for years to come.

Happy New Year from Life’s Abundance!

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Probiotics ensure your body has the support it needs to keep your health goals on track.

Along with joy and cheer, people also tend to spread germs during the holidays! And even if the seasonal bug doesn’t get you, sometimes the accompanying holiday stress of shopping, hosting, cooking and lack of sleep will. And these things will take a toll on your health. That’s why it’s so important to introduce probiotics into your daily routine.

Why Probiotics Are Particularly Vital During The Winter Season 

While they often get a bad rap, it's important to understand that not all bacteria are created equal. In fact, the average human gut contains over 100 trillion bacteria, many of which have important health benefits!

That's why probiotic supplements are designed to ensure that your body has all the support it needs to enjoy the benefits of healthy bacteria. 

Probiotics Play A Key Role In Preventing Illness

Probiotics help maintain your body’s count of friendly bacteria, which act as a tiny army to combat viruses. When an intruder is detected, these bacteria play a key role in the production of natural antiviral proteins. Probiotics ensure that your immune system has plenty of reinforcement in the fight against the seasonal cold and flu.

Probiotics Promote Proper Digestion

Let’s admit it - one of the best parts of family gatherings is all of the delicious food. Just remember that the more you eat the more your gut will have to work. Healthy gut bacteria not only boosts the immune system but also plays an essential role in digestion. Probiotics can help ensure that your digestive tract maintains enough healthy bacteria to avoid issues such as bloating, constipation, acid indigestion, and IBS.

Healthy gut bacteria not only boosts your immunity but also plays an essential role in digestion.

Sleep So Good You’ll Think You Hibernated

All of the logistical planning involved in family gatherings, holiday getaways and hectic shopping sprees surrounding the season can often result in a less predictable winter sleep schedule. Unfortunately, when your sleep cycle is thrown off, your body's healthy bacteria count will often follow. The good news is that the opposite is also true. Not only can probiotics help keep your gut healthy, but science now suggests that they can also lead to an improvement in the quality of sleep.  

Probiotics Can Help Counteract Holiday Cookies

It’s inevitable that most of us will overindulge during the holidays - whether it’s cookies, cocktails or grandma’s casserole, but it doesn’t need to stress you out.  Science has linked probiotics to the prevention of weight gain, so enjoy those extra peanut butter kisses, and pop a daily probiotic capsule as a great way to ensure your body has all the support it needs to keep your health goals on track.  

Alleviate Stress During The Winter Season

Between shopping, parties, and potlucks, winter can get hectic, but it turns out that the benefits of probiotics don’t end with immune and gut health. Research has also shown that they can relieve stress and depression while boosting cognitive function - just another reason to add them to your arsenal. 

At Life’s Abundance, we want to help keep you happy and healthy all season long. That's why we created a premium probiotic formula with at least 25 billion CFUs per capsule. This formula was developed with an award winning probiotics manufacturer in the USA, focused on supplying the highest quality strains that are vigorously tested using top technological advances. We go through this extensive process so you can get the full benefit out of our probiotics.

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Apples are chock-full of vitamins including Vitamin C, Vitamin A, potassium and antioxidants.

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away perhaps it keeps the Veterinarian away as well. Apples are a nutrient-packed superfood, but do they have the same health impact on your four-legged friends? Depending on how often you give your pup apples, they can serve as a delicious, healthy treat.

Benefits of apples for dogs:

• Apples are low in calories and chock-full of vitamins including Vitamin C, Vitamin A, potassium and antioxidants. One of the benefits of antioxidants is that they can help to reduce inflammation. In fact, apples contain quercetin which is an antioxidant that has been known to act as an antihistamine, helping inhibit the effects of allergies.
• Apples are a great source of fiber for your furry friends, especially in the peel. And just like in people, fiber plays a huge role in the digestive system to keep everything moving. This helps your dog maintain a healthy weight.
• Looking for a snack that helps with dental health? Apples contain malic acid, which aids in keeping their teeth cleaner and breath fresher. Plus, the natural chewing action helps scrub off food build-up.

As a note, if you choose to give your furry friend a fresh apple, make sure you are removing the core and seeds. The seeds can contain a small amount of cyanide, which can lead to problems should they eat too many by mistake. In addition, you don’t want to give them too large a serving, as an overabundance of fiber can cause digestive problems - we suggest sticking to one or two small slices.

Because apples are so nutrient-rich and enjoyed by dogs, we decided to make it one of the two top ingredients in our newest dog treats - Pork & Apple Recipe sausage treats for dogs. This treat packs a nutritious punch. Your pup will love the deli-style sausage links, and you’ll love how good it is for them.

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Make the best sugar cookies...ever. Without refined sugar.

Every holiday you bake sugar cookies for your kid’s holiday party.  Mmm...the oven-fresh smell is amazing. An entire class of third graders’ mouths water in unison as the tray of cookies enters the room, but there’s just one problem. The teacher’s no-sugar policy. We all know too much sugar is frowned upon, especially for kids, but what are sugar cookies without their sugary deliciousness?

The great news is you can avoid refined sugar and still turn out the best sugar cookies ever. The Vanilla Plant Protein Powder in this recipe is not only healthier, but it will delight your taste buds. It’s a win-win. Even the most health conscious teacher will enjoy them as much as their students will.

This recipe is a protein-packed, gluten-free take on traditional sugar cookies without the refined sugar. The coconut flour gives these cookies a soft, chewy texture, while the sanding sugar adds a little crunch as a garnish. If you want to skip sugar altogether, there are also sugar-free sprinkles. In the end, if all you have in the pantry is “real” sugar, you can substitute the same amount - and you’ll be happy to know they’re still healthier than most cookie recipes.

Note: A medium star cookie cutter was used, but cooking times and the number of cookies produced will vary depending on the shape and size of the cookie cutter you decide to use.

Makes about 16 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1 scoop Life’s Abundance Vanilla Plant Protein Powder
• 1 Tbsp. coconut flour
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/3 cup monk fruit powder
• 1 large egg, cracked
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/8 tsp. fine sea salt
• 1/4 cup sanding sugar (optional garnish)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Add the almond flour, Vanilla Plant Protein Powder, and coconut flour; whisk; and set aside.
3. Add the coconut oil and monk fruit powder to a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or handheld mixer and cream for three minutes until fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat for one more minute.
4. Add the dry ingredients slowly until just combined.
5. Roll out the cookie dough with a rolling pin to 1/2-inch thick on a large parchment-lined sheet to avoid sticking to the counter. Chill the dough on the parchment paper in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
6. Carefully cut with a cookie cutter. Repeat this process with the rest of the dough. If it gets too warm and stops holding its shape, place it back in the fridge for 30 minutes.
7. Place the cookies two inches apart on a parchment-lined, rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle with sanding sugar (about 1/4 tsp. per cookie).
8. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until puffy and cooked through.

Note: They will be soft, so don’t move them. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 20 to 30 minutes and store in an airtight container for three days or freeze for up to three months.

Enjoy!

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There are many ways you can help animal rescues during the holidays, even if you can't adopt just yet.

You’ll forever be a “superhero” in the eyes of any pet you adopt, but if you can’t commit to adoption just yet, you can at least reach “trusty sidekick” status by volunteering at your local animal shelter. This is especially true during the holidays when there’s often a shortage of staff. 

Here are eight creative ways you can help:

1. Become a wise adopter

Pets in a shelter have only one thing on their holiday wish list: get adopted by a loving parent.  It’s the happiest ending they could ever hope for as a rescue. But while you are indeed “rescuing” them, remember, there are responsibilities with being a pet parent. First, it’s a myth that shelters spay/neuter their animals, so be sure to address that if it’s important to you. There are also financial costs to consider, like visits to the vet, and the cost of feeding- let alone all the cute toys and accessories you’ll want to buy. This is why it’s smart to be an aware adopter – it leads to a happier life for you and your pet.

2. Foster a pet

Take a pet home for a short stay, say two weeks, to give them a break from their sheltered environment, that can be stressful, and ensure they get extra love and attention. If you already have a pet, this is a great way to help both your current pets and their new furry guest develop their social skills and hopefully introduce a new playmate.

3. Gratitude for shelter workers

Those working in shelters are super-dedicated and constantly looking to spread the word about pets available for adoption as well as the work they’re doing. Show your support by hash-tagging and mentioning your favorite shelters on social media. Or send them a hand-written thank you note they can proudly showcase in their reception area. If you’re a baker, why not take them oven-fresh holiday cookies, they make the purr-fect gift of appreciation.

4. Donate pet food and treats

Check first with your local shelter if you can bring in food and treats. Shelters are always hungry for support and if allowed, one of the best ways you can help is bringing in premium dog or cat food and delicious treats like our Pork and Apple Sausage Treats. Either choice will make you highly popular during visiting hours.

Show appreciation to dedicated shelter workers by sending thank you notes.

5. Donate to cover vet expenses

Rescued pets often sustain injuries from negligent owners or during their time wandering and medical bills can be a costly road to recovery. Your donation can help them live a happier, healthier life, making them ideal candidates for adoption.

6. Shelters need supplies

Your local shelter likely has a wish-list of things they need online. They could range from toys to towels to cleaning supplies. A shelter we heard about makes great use of an old bicycle they use to keep up with their dogs when they’re in the mood for a faster run.

7. Get pets adopted

Do you love pets but are allergic to them? Do you wish you could own a pet but you live in a pet-free building? Use your cell phone to take photos of some of the sheltered pets - the kind that pull at people’s heart strings - then post them on social media to let everyone know they’re available for adoption. If there’s anything that should be viral-worthy it’s the face of a cute kitten that needs a new loving home, even if it’s not your home.

8. Volunteer

Shelters are often short staffed. So grab a leash or three and help out by walking dogs, answering phones, feeding, cleaning or just playing with pets to keep them engaged and happy. There’s lots you can do, just ask. At Life’s Abundance, our employee-owners have begun to volunteer with Furry Friends, a local rescue. Check out the video below to see us in action!

When you shop at Life’s Abundance, a portion of the profits is set aside to fund our non-profit, The Dr. Jane Foundation - which helps support animals in need around the country. We recently partnered with Furry Friends, a local rescue, to aid in their mission. Read more here.

Gifts are always part of the holidays, but for pets and shelters, the gift of your time and love is especially valuable.

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