Summer is coming to a close and most of our kids are already heading back to school! This means we need to take extra measures to keep our families healthy and hydrated! Today we share our top tips to stay healthy and highlight what products can help support wellness for your entire family and take a little of the hard work for you!
Stock Up on CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+
CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ is the perfect on-the-go immune support beverage to pack in your child’s lunch box. It does not have excess amounts of sugar, unethically sourced ingredients, harmful additives, or anything else that can compromise your health and wellness. As the busy back-to-school season begins, CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ can help you and your family get the vitamins and minerals you need but may not otherwise consume on a regular basis.
Immunity drinks, then, are a great supplemental solution and help you ensure your child consumes the daily intake of vitamins and minerals a properly functioning immune system requires, without having to force them to shovel down steamed broccoli in the coveted few minutes they have in between the end of the school day and the start of baseball practice.
The great thing about CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ is it actually tastes good! We know that kids are not going to drink something that doesn’t taste good. CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ has medical grade ingredients without the medicinal taste or chalky texture. It comes in three highly reviewed flavors- Orange, Aloha Blend, and Kiwi Strawberry.
Get Your Healthy Fats in With CF(Protein)®
CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ isn’t the only CF Nutrition product that is a great addition to your child’s lunch box. CF(Protein)® is another kid friendly beverage that can be consumed as an on-the-go snack. Our plant based protein drink comes in an 8 ounce bottle and is an excellent addition to ensure a well-rounded, nutrient-dense meal. It contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals derived from fruits and vegetables, along with other healthful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients.
CF(Protein)® uses plant protein that is easily digested with yellow pea protein, contributing a significant amino acid dose that promotes muscle recovery and repair. CF(Protein)® has complex carbohydrates derived from fruit. This makes CF(Protein)® a rich energy source without any added sugar. There are no cheap, low-quality additives or simple sugars seen in other protein drinks. CF(Protein)® also contains healthy fats, mono and polyunsaturated fats. The use of chia seed oil provides consumers with essential omega-three and omega-six fatty acids to minimize inflammation and help prevent cardiovascular disease. CF(Protein)® also contains turmeric, which may help support your immune system.
Back-to-school season can be tough, but with CF Nutrition on your side—you and your family can easily reap the benefits of essential vitamins, minerals, and medical-grade hydration and clean protein!
Halloween is quickly approaching, and our little ones are starting to count down the days until they get to fill their pillowcases with endless amounts of sweet treats. As parents, this may be a rather daunting thought. But don’t worry, CF Nutrition has healthy halloween tips and tricks on how you and your family can stay mindful and well nourished this Halloween. Like any other day, creating balance on holidays is just as crucial to creating a healthy relationship with food and staying on track with our goals while still enjoying ourselves.
Healthy Halloween Tip No. 1: Have a healthy meal before trick-or-treating.
Having a healthy, hearty, well-balanced meal before trick-or-treating is a great way to curb candy cravings and set a solid example. By filling up first, the temptation to overindulge on candy is reduced because your little ones will feel satisfied from their meal. Eating a balanced meal also provides fuel for your kids as they walk from house to house. But most importantly, it helps your children learn the importance of eating healthy even on holidays. By instilling the idea of year-round healthy eating in your children from a young age, you can help them avoid the fast-or-famine mindset so many of us adults know all too well. Just because it’s a holiday and candy is involved doesn’t mean you should go completely off the rails and neglect to nourish your body mindfully.
Healthy Halloween Tip No. 2: Check your kids’ candy before they consume it.
Before letting your little ones dig into their treasured supply of candy, make sure to go through and check expiration dates as well as look for any opened pieces. Sometimes, an opened piece will sneak into the batch, and it is crucial to throw any away that have any openings. Also, any candy that has passed the expiration date should be thrown away. Lastly, check for allergens and suspicious ingredients, especially if your child is allergic to anything.
Healthy Halloween Tip No. 3: Get moving as a family.
We often treat candy and sweets as the “fun part” or “reward” of certain holidays. But by beginning your own traditions that make physical movements fun, you can expand your little ones’ ideas of what holidays are all about. Whether it’s throwing a dance party in your living room before you head out trick-or-treating, setting up a Halloween-themed relay race in your driveway, or setting a goal of how many houses you’ll walk to as a family—figure out a fun way to put on your costumes and get moving together. No matter what you choose, it’s important to have an activity that your kids can look forward to as much as they look forward to candy!
Healthy Halloween Tip No. 4:Practice portion control.
Halloween is a perfect day to help your child understand portion control. If given the opportunity, children typically will eat enough candy to make themselves sick. And yes, they will ask for more candy than you allow them. Here is a great way to educate your children on enjoying some of something without overdoing it. Allow them to choose two of their favorite candy on Halloween and save the rest for later. If they want more candy, maybe offer them an orange fruit or vegetable instead like a carrot or a cutie. This will allow them to learn that if they don’t feel hungry for a fruit or vegetable, they may not be hungry for more candy either.
Healthy Halloween Tip No. 5: Limit leftover candy.
If your child has an abundance of candy, you don’t need to keep all of it. Instead, let your child pick their favorites and donate the rest. Saving about 15 pieces of candy is plenty. This is crucial to ensure your child is not consuming endless amounts of candy for the days and weeks to come. Limiting to about 15 pieces will allow them to have 2-3 pieces the night of Halloween and have some leftovers to distribute throughout the next 2-3 weeks. This will ensure a habit of eating candy every day does not develop at a young age.
Healthy Halloween Tip No. 6: Remember balance—it’s only one day a year.
Remember, Halloween is an exciting time for your children. While instilling portion control and balance, also remember to keep the joy of the holiday alive. Try to refrain from telling your children that candy is “bad for you.” Instead, teach them that candy is a fun treat to enjoy some of the time—but that to keep our bodies healthy and strong, we also have to nourish ourselves with balanced meals and fresh produce. It’s not about neglecting to enjoy the holiday altogether—it’s about being mindful, embracing moderation, and avoiding the kind of habits that lead to a lifetime of rollercoaster dieting and unhealthy relationships with food.
Healthy Halloween Tip No. 7: Keep it festive!
One way to make this Halloween healthy and fun is to make some festive holiday treats. Try making pumpkin seeds with your pumpkin fillings. Offer your children orange fruits and veggies like cuties, carrots, and sweet potatoes. Maybe make some black and orange treats or place natural orange food coloring in your child’s yogurt. You can also check out ourCF(Protein)® Spooky Smoothie Recipe below. It’s a healthy smoothie that’s so tasty your children just might forget all about Snickers Bars and sour gummies.
Need a sweet treat around Halloween? CF Nutrition has you covered
Try sprucing up your CF(Protein)® with this festive smoothie recipe. This delicious and healthy plant based drink makes 2-3 servings. It’s a great way to get in a few servings of fruits and vegetables—and to “trick” your family into enjoying a healthy “treat”.
Ready for more goodness? Browse the rest of the CF Nutrition blog for empowering health, wellness, and lifestyle tips. And don’t forget to fuel yourself and your family this fall season with the clean, clinical replenishment of CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity +.
The school bell has officially rung and eager-to-interact kids everywhere are returning to classrooms across the nation. But with the global pandemic persisting and children under the age of 12 unauthorized to receive COVID-19 vaccinations as of this writing—along with the start of the regular cold-and-flu season looming—the idea of keeping your family healthy, nourished, and strong in today’s climate can feel a bit overwhelming (to say the least).
Today, then, we wanted to serve up everything you need to know about our favorite, parent-friendly solution for on-the-go immune support: immunity drinks. Read on for our top tips—and get ready to tackle the back-to-school season with confidence and clarity.
What is an immunity drink?
That’s a great question! An immunity drink is a beverage that includes intentionally-selected ingredients to support a properly functioning immune system. While no immunity drink can “boost” your immune system in the way a vaccine can, thoughtfully-formulated, scientifically-backed immunity drinks do a great job of helping ensure you’re properly hydrated and nourished with essential vitamins and minerals—which, in turn, aids your immune system in operating at its best, as malnutrition is a leading cause of poor immune function.
Why should I use immunity drinks?
Immunity drinks are an effective, on-the-go solution to help your family get the vitamins and minerals they might not otherwise consume via diet on a regular basis during the busy back-to-school season. With homework back in full swing, carpools abound, lunches eaten in the cafeteria instead of under your watchful roof, and extracurricular activities adding yet another item onto parents’ already-packed to-do lists—ensuring your child eats their fruits, finishes their vegetables, and reaps the benefits of three perfectly balanced meals a day is a struggle. Add on your own career to manage, a household to run, and your personal health to stay on top of—and it can go from a “struggle” to seemingly impossible.
Immunity drinks, then, are a great supplemental solution for easing the overwhelm. They can help you ensure your child consumes the daily intake of vitamins and minerals a properly functioning immune system requires, without having to force them to shovel down steamed broccoli in the coveted few minutes they have in between the end of the school day and the start of baseball practice.
How can I use immunity drinks for immune support?
The options are endless! Throw an immunity drink in with your child’s lunch. Fill their water bottle with a clean, clinical-grade immunity beverage in place of sugary sodas and artificially-dyed sports drinks. Blend one into any smoothies or juices you might make at home. And don’t forget to give yourself the immune support you need with one as well—you can quickly consume an immunity drink while you’re shuffling little ones around, on your lunch break, or whipping up dinner.
What should I look for in an immunity drink for my family?
Not all immunity drinks were created equal. The purpose of a great immunity beverage is overall health and wellness—so it’s important to avoid excess amounts of sugar, unethically sourced ingredients, harmful additives, and anything else that can compromise your health and wellness. Be sure to look for the following things when you’re shopping for an immunity drink you can feel great about giving your family and consuming yourself:
Less sugar: Avoid immunity beverages that contain excess amounts of added sugar. (Wondering where to start? We’ve got you covered. Our immunity drink contains only 1 gram of sugar. You read that right—only 1 gram!)
No neon colors: Avoid immunity drinks that contain harmful colored dyes.
Honest advertising: Read the label and check out the brand’s online presence. Are they promising things that sound too good to be true? Do their words match up with what’s on the label? Is their beverage made domestically or overseas? Do they have their own factory and, as a result, retain quality control of their product?
The right vitamins and minerals: When it comes to immune support, you want a beverage that includes:
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Zinc
Magnesium
Specialty-diet friendly: Is the drink safe to consume for anyone in your household who may be gluten-free, vegan, or allergic to soy?
Great taste: Here’s the kicker! Any parent knows: if it doesn’t taste good, the kids aren’t going for it. An immunity drink can have all of the right ingredients—but if it tastes medicinal or has an unpleasant chalky texture (which so many immunity drinks do), it will only serve to take up space in your fridge. With three fan-favorite flavors and a taste that little ones and adults alike rave about, our immunity drink was painstakingly formulated and taste-tested (over and over…and over) until our team of beverage scientists and nutritionists knew it was sure to satisfy even the pickiest of taste buds.
Is there anything else that’s important to note about immunity drinks?
There is! It’s important to note that hydration is a key component of a properly functioning immune system—so consuming an immunity drink isn’t just about the minerals and vitamins it includes; it’s also about the fluids and electrolytes you’re getting from that beverage. Water helps carry oxygen to your cells, which is a key component of proper organ functioning. When your organs are functioning at their best, so is your immune system. Staying hydrated also helps your kidneys eliminate toxins and encourages your cells to get rid of harmful waste, helping flush unwelcome visitors and cold-and-flu-causing bacteria from your body (a toxin build-up in your body weakens your immune system). The immune-supporting benefits of hydration can’t be understated. So if your little one tends to avoid water like the plague and prefers sweeter liquids instead—a clean, additive-free, but still tasty-as-ever immunity beverage might just be the thing you need to increase their fluid intake and, in turn, promote their immunity.
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Overall, it’s no secret that the onslaught of school season—especially after an extended time period off due to the pandemic—can make maintaining your family’s health and wellness a tricky, time-consuming challenge. But with the right immunity drink on your side—you, your partner, and your little ones can easily reap the benefits of essential vitamins, minerals, and medical-grade hydration….without spending hours sweating over the stove or bargaining about broccoli. (Can we get a hallelujah?)
Bring on the clean, clinical-grade immunity drink—and let a safe, healthy fall ensue.
——— Ready for more goodness? Browse the rest of the CF Nutrition blog for empowering health, wellness, and lifestyle tips. And don’t forget to fuel yourself and your family throughout the start of school season with the clean, clinical replenishment of CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity +.
Full-time teacher? As a parent, you likely didn’t sign yourself up for that. However, 2020 has turned many moms and dads into full-time teachers (on top of the endless responsibilities they already had to juggle). This by NO means is an easy task and we are here to help you navigate this new job title you probably weren’t expecting. When kids are at home all day, there are new challenges that can make it more difficult to keep our kids happy and healthy. Today, we’re sharing some tips and advice from Kara McCracken, a Registered Dietitian, on ways to keep your little ones active, well-nourished, and thriving during these crazy times.
Obstacle 1: Endless access to the refrigerator
When children are at school, they have set meal times to enjoy their snacks and lunches. With packed lunches, you normally provide your child with all the food they will eat throughout the school day. However, when kids are being taught at home, they have access to the refrigerator and pantry all day long. If you are a working mother, sometimes your child may be left alone to do their work and they may be taking several unnecessary trips to the fridge or pantry. This sort of excess snacking can eventually lead to weight gain, especially when you consider most foods marketed for children tend to be loaded with sugar, sodium, and other unhealthy additives. Overtime, overconsuming these types of foods could put children at risk for developing lifestyle diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and other similar conditions later in life.
To ensure your kids stay healthy while distance learning, It is very important to set designated snack times during their school day. If your child struggles to choose snacks on their own, I recommend supervising them during this time. Try to create a well-balanced snack for your child so they are left feeling satisfied and won’t be tempted to go back to the pantry an hour later. The best case would be to provide your child with a snack that has protein, a complex carbohydrate, healthy fats, and fruits and vegetables whenever possible.
Here are some examples of some satisfying and well-balanced snack options:
½ apple with 1 tbs of nut butter and whole-grain crackers
Greek yogurt with blueberries and shaved almonds
Hard-boiled egg with string cheese and carrots
Wheat thins and hummus with celery
You might also find it helpful to prepare your child’s lunch as you would if they were going to school. If you don’t have the time to prepare your child’s lunch during lunchtime, I recommend packing it the night before or in the morning so it is easily accessible to them when their lunchtime rolls around. This way, they won’t be tempted to throw together an unhealthy and unsatisfying meal of their own.
Obstacle 2: No more recess or afterschool sports
Another issue with kids learning from home is that there is no longer recess and lunch breaks. Typically, kids are watching the clock, counting down the seconds until the school bell rings signaling it’s time for lunch or recess. These outdoor classroom breaks offer an opportunity for your kids to not only socialize with their friends, but also get some physical activity as they run around the playground. Now, children are often playing on their phones or iPad during their breaks instead of getting outside and running and playing. Without this 30 to 60 minutes they used to get to run around, children are missing an incredible opportunity to get in some exercise without even realizing that they are doing it. Instead of letting your kids get sucked into even more screen time during their breaks, try to get them moving at home so they can remain active and stay focused for the rest of their school day.
Some ways to encourage your child to get active during their breaks:
If you have a big yard, let them play catch with you or their siblings
Order a jump rope off amazon so they can use it during lunch break
Take a walk around your neighborhood after your child eats lunch
Encourage your child to watch a dance class on YouTube to get active
If your child participated in extracurricular activities that have been canceled this year, encourage your child to get moving after school rather than jumping into video games or switching on the television. Brainstorm activities that your child enjoys and find ways to incorporate those into their evening routine. Help them find fun and accessible ways to exercise, like kid-centered Youtube workout videos, or get outside to play with them yourself. Taking walks together as a family is another great way to get everyone moving and out of the house after a day stuck inside. Designate at least 30 minutes each day for after school activity and ensure your child does something they enjoy during this time.
Obstacle 3: Weight Gain; How Do I React as a Parent?
If your child has begun to gain weight during this pandemic, it is important to address this appropriately and with sensitivity. Even with their best interest in mind, sometimes parent intervention can make this situation worse. If you begin to place too much pressure on them to lose weight, it can cause irreparable damage to your child’s relationship with food, exercise, and body image. As a parent, it’s important to be supportive and encouraging as you help your child to navigate staying healthy during a strange time. Act as a role model to your child through your own mindful eating practices and by choosing wholesome, natural foods to eat. Rather than telling your child they need to lose weight, focus on providing healthy options for them to choose from during meals and snack times. Encourage them to eat well balanced meals rather than focusing on avoiding or eliminating certain types of foods. We recommend that you avoid discussing weight or direct conversations around weight loss specifically. Instead, discuss the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables while you avoid conversations that could perpetuate negative self-image ( and that includes how you speak about your own body as well). If you think your child is struggling with their relationship with food or body, seek a professional to step in as soon as possible. And if your teenager seems to be struggling with poor self-esteem related to their view of their body or weight, we suggest looking into the type of content they’re consuming on social media and which accounts they are following since the digital world has added a new level of scrutiny and comparison surrounding body image and appearance for the younger generations . Remind your child that people come in all shapes and sizes and that is perfectly okay.
This is a challenging time for everyone. We hope you can use these recommendations as a resource and use these tips to keep you and your family healthy as we navigate our new normal.
Ready or not, here it comes! Whether you were hoping for an endless summer or have already started counting the days until Christmas, school is back in session! Kids are packing up their backpacks and hitting the books, gearing up for a whole new type of school year. This year may be a little different, and regardless of whether your kids are back in a real classroom or schooling from the living room, mealtime will feel a little different this year. Fueling yourself and your family with immune-boosting foods will help increase energy and performance levels all year long. If you are confused about how to include immune-boosting foods in your meals, have no fear, Clearfast has you covered! Today, we’re offering up immune-boosting meal ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that pack immune-boosting and nutrient-dense ingredients you need to keep everyone feeling their best.
Immune-Boosting Breakfast Ideas:
Overnight oats:
Overnight oats are a quick and easy breakfast option that your kids will love. It’ll keep everyone satisfied for hours because it is full of fiber. It’s easy to add fruit which will provide a boost of antioxidants and immunity. You can make this immune-boosting recipe it the night before so it’s ready to enjoy when you wake up.
My favorite: Banana Nutzo Overnight Oats
This is the immune-boosting recipe that I find the tastiest but there are TONS of ways to mix it up by trying out different fruits, nut butter, nuts, and more. I encourage you to vary it up and use a variety of different fruits if you are eating this every day. Adding Greek yogurt gives this meal some extra protein and probiotics which helps with gut health. Instead of nut butter, you can use sliced or chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds. I encourage you to get your kids involved in prepping the overnight oats with you so they can get a feel for using healthy foods in fun and innovative ways!
1/2 cups of quick oats
1/2 cup of almond milk (or whatever milk you prefer)
1/2 of a banana (sliced)
Cinnamon
1 to 2 tablespoons of nutzo
*optional: 1/4 cup of Greek yogurt
Mix all the ingredients in a cup or mason jar. Place in the fridge the night before and enjoy in the morning.
Healthy, high protein smoothie:
Smoothies are a delicious way to get in some immune-boosting foods, especially for those picky eaters who don’t love eating their fruits and veggies. There are tons of delicious ways to make your smoothies. Blueberries, lemons, oranges, spinach, kiwi, turmeric, and yogurt are all excellent ingredients to add to your smoothies to help boost your immunity.
My favorite: Blueberry peanut butter smoothie
This is a great recipe for a high protein, immune-boosting smoothie that tastes delicious. The Greek yogurt and nut butter offer a serious one-two-punch of protein. The nut butter also gives you some healthy fats that are crucial to your diet. Blueberries are a great way to boost your immunity because they are a powerful antioxidant. If you want to kickup your smoothie one more notch, add a cup of spinach to get in a serving of veggies. *Note, sometimes spinach can be a turn off for kids but if your little one is keen on some green, I highly recommend adding spinach to this recipe.
1 cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1.5 cups of milk (I like almond but any milk works)
2 tablespoons of nut butter (I prefer peanut or almond butter)
2/3 cup of Greek yogurt (plain)
Cinnamon
Blend ingredients together and enjoy. This recipe will make about 2 servings.
Immune-Boosting Lunch:
Whether your kid is at home with you or off at school, it’ss crucial to have a satisfying and filling lunch prepared to ensure they have enough energy to power them through the rest of the day.
My favorite: Veggie Hummus Wrap
This is a great immune-boosting, plant-based meal option that’s super easy to prep. It’s an excellent way to get a few servings of vegetables in, which will help boost immunity. The hummus and cheese provide protein and the whole grain tortilla is a complex carb that will keep you and your child’s brain happy and ready to learn.
Whole grain tortilla (aim for >3g of fiber)
2 tablespoons of hummus
Cheese (whichever kind you and your family prefer)
Fill with your child’s favorite vegetables (aim for 2-3 servings) I think spinach, red peppers, and tomatoes is the tastiest combo.
Immune-Boosting Dinner:
Easy Sheet Pan Meals
If you are looking for quick and healthy immune-boosting meals for dinner with limited prep, sheet pan meals are just for you. You can mix up the type of protein you use (chicken, salmon, tilapia, pork) as well as the carbohydrate and the veggies. Aim to serve at least 1-2 servings of vegetables at dinner time, this will help boost the whole family’s immunity.
My favorite: Salmon, Brussel Sprouts, and Sweet potatoes
Salmon fillet (4 oz per person)
Brussels sprouts (1 cup per person)
Sweet potatoes (1 small per person)
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Lemon
Garlic
This is simple but delicious. The steps are easy.
Preheat oven to 425 ˚F.
Wash and dry sweet potatoes. Cut into 1/2-inch cubes or 1-inch fry like pieces. (No need to peel, the potatoes peel is packed with nutrients).
Coat potatoes with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place on foil-covered sheet pan. Make sure to spray your pan.
Cook for 15 minutes. While potatoes cook, wash brussels sprouts and cut them in half. Season with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Once potatoes have cooked 15 minutes, lay Brussel sprouts on sheet pan with potatoes. If you don’t have room, you can use two sheet pans. Cook for 10 more minutes.
While potatoes and brussels sprouts cook, season your salmon with minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Next, take Brussel sprouts and potatoes out of the oven. Place your seasoned salmon fillet on pan with potatoes and brussels sprouts. Place sheet pan in the oven and cook for 12-15 minutes.
Let cool, serve, and Enjoy!
*Be careful to only use a small amount of salt when seasoning your items.
We hope you and your littles enjoy these immune-boosting recipes as much as we do!
If you or your little one has a first-time surgery on the books and you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Surgery can be scary and stressful for those who’ve undergone anesthesia multiple times—let alone for those who have never had a procedure before and aren’t quite sure what to expect. At ClearFast, it’s always our mission to empower patients with the tools, resources, and premium clinical nutrition they need to take control of their surgery experience—which is why we’re diving into our CFpreop presurgery drink today and offering up three ways it’s helpful for first-time surgeries. Read on for our top tips!
1. It calms nerves.
While CFpreop can do everything from decrease your risk of developing a surgical infection to speed up your recovery time, one of its most important benefits is peace-of-mind. Entering surgery after a 12-hour fast can have your nerves at an all-time high, which is why safely nourishing during the fasting window with our anesthesiologist-developed presurgery drink is key for those undergoing a procedure for the first time. In fact, patients who drink CFpreop before surgery are often less anxious and describe themselves as up to 5 times more comfortable than their cohorts who underwent the old-school nothing-from-midnight method.
2. It’s especially helpful for children.
Outside of nerves and fear, one of the most difficult things for children undergoing a procedure is often the nothing-from-midnight fast. Because our presurgery drink was developed by an anesthesiologist specifically to address the nuances of nourishing before surgery without disrupting your doctor’s instructions to fast, it’s the perfect option for little ones who have trouble skipping their morning juice box or breakfast. Available in white grape, watermelon, and strawberry flavors, our presurgery drink is especially tasty when chilled and, because it’s chock-full of complex carbs and medical-grade nutrients, it helps kids feel full and satisfied before surgery.
3. It reduces your risk of post-op nausea and vomiting.
If you’ve never undergone anesthesia before, you don’t know just how your body will react to it, which is why it’s important to take steps to ensure your body is in the strongest, safest state possible to be administered anesthesia. According to an article published in Continuing Education in Anaesthesia Critical Care & Pain, one in three patients suffer from post-op nausea and vomiting (or PONV)—something that can delay your recovery and extend your hospital stay. The key causes of PONV are two-fold: First, prolonged fasting (from the typical nothing-from-midnight fast) causes an unnecessary build-up of stomach acid, and these stomach acids are one major cause of feeling sick when you wake up from surgery. Second, the anesthesia drugs themselves, taken on an empty stomach, can cause patients to get sick after surgery.
Our anesthesiologist-developed presurgery drink, then, was specifically formulated to address this issue. Drinking CFpreop before your procedure ensures your stomach isn’t producing all of those nasty stomach acids that make you sick when you’re administered the anesthesia, helping to reduce your risk of post-op nausea and vomiting (and getting you out of the hospital faster!).
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Overall, if you’re looking for a smart, simple, science-based solution for a smoother first-time surgery and easier recovery, and quicker hospital discharge, CFpreop is here for you! You can order your bottles of CFpreop here, and, as always, don’t hesitate to reach out to the ClearFast team at support@drinkcf.com if you have any questions at all. We’re always here and happy to help!
No one loves the idea of having surgery—but, for moms, the stress surrounding surgery can run deeper than it does for most. When you’re the backbone of your family and responsible for keeping schedules in tact and kiddos on track, having a procedure can put a serious wrench in your daily duties. Today, then, we’ve rounded up the three major things every mom should plan for before surgery. Read on for our top surgery tips for moms.
How will this disrupt my schedule?
When it comes to surgery tips for moms, preparing for a disrupted schedule is at the top of our list. Think through your daily schedule and take note of how your surgery might affect things. This includes the weeks leading up to surgery (consider your pre-op appointments and how that might affect the schedule you have laid out for those days), the surgery day itself, and your recovery time. Walk through your days and the things you’re responsible for every day (driving kids to school, getting to work, etc.). Make a list of which tasks you won’t be able to complete on which days, and then enlist the help of a spouse, family member, or friend to take over things for you. If your kids are old enough, talk to them about your upcoming procedure and prepare them for how it may affect their day-to-day schedule as well.
Are there measures I can take to speed up my recovery?
This one is a biggie—particularly if you and your family are the active and involved type, or if you have a demanding job (outside of the already-demanding job of being a mom, of course). No mom wants to be stuck in bed with a to-do list that’s piling up. Luckily, the way medical professionals have prepped patients for surgery has changed in recent years. Rather than scheduling a ride home from the hospital, fasting from midnight, and calling that proper surgery prep—modern medical research now points to the fact that presurgery nutrition has everything to do with how well (and how fast) you recover.
When it comes to surgery tips for moms, we recommend supplementing a healthy diet in the weeks leading up to surgery with CF Protein, a plant-based protein drink designed to get you strong and healthy before your procedure. Then, for the hours leading up to your procedure, talk to your doctor about replacing the from-midnight fast with a liquid fast using CF PreOp. CF PreOp was developed by an anesthesiologist and is chock-full of healing minerals, nutrients, and complex carbs specifically formulated to reduce your risk of surgical complications, reduce your risk of post-op nausea and vomiting, and speed up your recovery.
What will our everyday life look like as I recover?
As a mom, it’s completely natural to want to get back on your feet—and back to keeping your household in order—as quickly as possible, but pushing too hard before you’re fully healed can lead to further complications and, in the worst instances, a need for a second surgery. In order to ensure healthy healing, make sure you follow your doctor’s release instructions carefully and closely—and prepare your household and those around you for your recovery. Here are a few of our favorite surgery tips for moms planning for a smooth recovery:
Prepare your household if you’re having an orthopedic procedure. Create a healing area that’s free from trip hazards. Make sure everything you’ll need is within arm’s reach. Take hard-to-reach items out of top cupboards and place them on easy-to-reach counters.
Talk to your kids about what your recovery will look like and how they can help make things easy on you (increased chores and pitching in, quiet time as you sleep, etc.).
Arrange for someone you can lean on. Talk to a spouse, partner, or a family member who can trust to take over your responsibilities (car rides, laundry, grocery shopping, etc.) as you recover. Be sure you give them lists, calendar invites, emergency contacts, and anything else they might need to help ensure things run smooth as you recover.
Get meals taken care of ahead of time. Meal prep and grocery shop as much as you can ahead of time to alleviate your responsibilities as you recover. Make large batches of soups and/or casseroles you can freeze for easy dinners, stock the house with more groceries than normal (so you don’t have to make unexpected trips to the store), and—when all else fails— don’t be afraid to enlist the help of a grocery- or meal-delivery service.
Going under the knife can be intimidating and overwhelming for adults, let alone for kids. While avoiding talking about the scary experience all together can often feel like the answer, properly preparing your child for surgery will lead to an empowered surgery process for both of you. Today, then, we’re offering up our top three tips for opening up conversation and reducing the fear of an upcoming surgery for your little ones.
Explain what’s happening.
Any parent knows just how perceptive and intuitive kids can be. While wanting to shield your child from certain realities of surgery makes sense, it’s also important they have a clear idea of what’s happening. Preparing your child for surgery starts with letting them know why they’re having surgery and what they can expect. Bring your child in the room with their surgeon for a conversation and allow them to meet their anesthesiologists beforehand if possible as well. You want your child to have a clear picture of what the day will involve and to feel comfortable with (or at least recognize the faces of) the people who will be involved on the day of. When you get home—or somewhere where they are comfortable—be sure to have a separate conversation with them where they can open up more.
Allow Them to Experience Their Emotions
When it comes to preparing your child for surgery, helping them feel empowered throughout the pre-op process is key. Allow your child to experience their emotions and fears around surgery—rather than shielding them from all aspects of it. Work with your child before their pre-op appointment to come up with a list of questions they want to ask their doctor—and be sure you make a point to validate your child’s emotions before immediately jumping in with, “There’s no reason to be scared!” or “Everything will be fine!”
Do what you can to make them comfortable.
Depending on your child’s age, you might want to bring a comfort item (a favorite stuffed animal, a familiar blanket, a photo they like) with them—and be sure to bring a few things to keep them entertained as you wait. Drinking ClearFast Preop up until two hours before their surgery is also a great option for the little ones, as it makes fasting easier and helps with the post-op nausea that often accompanies being administered anesthesia on an empty stomach. On top of that, make sure you are with your child up until the very last moment you can’t be and ensure you’re there when they wake up—nothing eases fear like a familiar face.
