Kara Swanson's Top 10 Picks for Healthy Living

One of the simplest habits for healthy living is also the most underrated habit. Drinking water is so important and often overlooked, but it's a core habit and one that should be taken seriously. 

Water helps flush toxins out, regulate body temperature, and helps you absorb vital nutrients and minerals. If you struggle with drinking enough water, start with a water bottle with a straw. That's why I love Elemental's water bottle with a sports lid. 

It helps me reach my water goals, keeps water cold, and is super durable. They have lots of fun colors to choose from, too, and you can use code KARA20 to save 20% on your order!

How Not To Diet by Michael Greger changed my family's life, and I want everyone to read it, too! It's a powerful book that looks at the science and facts of food. 

It dives into how powerful food is and how a plant-based diet is the only diet to be proven by science to not only prevent heart disease (the number one killer in America) but to reverse it as well! 

It's also a very practical approach with tangible ways to eat healthily and even ease into eating more whole plant-based foods. It's available in hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook format.

On-the-go snacks are a must for healthy living, and I've got my go-to that my whole family is obsessed with. Apres protein drinks are ready to go, easy to bring along, and hold you over until your next meal. 

What sets Apres apart from other proteins are their ingredients; they don't use any dairy, it's low in sugar, and it's completely plant-based. My girls even think the Chocolate Sea Salt tastes like chocolate milk! 

It comes in three other flavors as well: Vanilla Bean, Mint Chocolate, and Cold Brew Coffee. Use the code KARA10 for 10% off your order and free shipping!

Staying active is another core habit when it comes to healthy living. It doesn't require much equipment to get a good, convenient workout in at home. That's why dumbbells are a great investment when you're wanting to tone and improve strength.

Depending on where you are at in your journey, you may need heavier weights, but I recommend starting with five-pound and 10-pound dumbbells. As you get stronger, you can add more weight. 

I love these ones from CAP Barbell because they have a rubber coating that makes it easy to grip and won't create any calluses on your hands. The hex-shaped heads also prevent them from rolling and causing injuries!

I don't believe in quick fixes when it comes to living a healthy life, but I do have a few nutrition hacks up my sleeve. One of them is taking turmeric daily. 

Turmeric has been shown to be the single most anti-inflammatory food. Consuming just a half-teaspoon a day decreases inflammation and boosts the immune system. 

It has an earthy, bitter taste, so you can add it to your morning smoothie bowl to mask the taste. I really like Navitas turmeric because it's a fair price and a trusted brand.

Another food to incorporate into your diet every day is flaxseed meal. A little tip on this: don't buy plain flaxseeds! Our bodies actually can't break them down, so we don't absorb all the benefits they provide. 

Make sure you grab flaxseed meal instead for benefits like a boost of fiber (which is the king of weight loss), omega-3s, antioxidants, and iron. 

Flaxseed meal also fires up your metabolism, keeps you regular, and helps you burn fat. This particular flaxseed meal is a staple in our home, and honestly, I love the consistent flavor and low price point.

I literally use this blender every single day for my smoothie bowls. I love starting my day with a smoothie because I can sneak in lots of healthy ingredients like flaxseed meal, turmeric, and spinach! 

It's my favorite way to start the day, and having a good blender is a must when making the perfect smoothie bowl. This high-powered blender blends smoothly and is perfect for sauces and pancake mixes, too. It's also super easy to clean and dishwasher-safe.


This particular set includes the blender base, a Total Crushing Pitcher, two 24-ounce serving cups, a processor bowl, a chopping blade, and a dough blade.

I've been using a Garmin watch for years now to track my running, and I absolutely love it. It's super easy to use, and you know you can trust the data it's giving you because it hooks up to a satellite. 

The battery life is long and the fit of the watch is perfect; I sometimes forget it's even there! I love that it tells you your pace, time, and distance all on one screen. I also love that it's priced fairly compared to other running watches. It's also available in black or red.

A good quality pair of headphones is a must when you're working out or just want to listen to a podcast while you're cleaning. I love these headphones from Sudio because they don't fall out when you're running and they're comfortable enough to wear while you're talking on the phone. 

The sound is really clear, they're lightweight, and they have a sweat-proof design so you can really power through any workout. Something that's really cool is that they come with four wing-tip sizes so you can choose the most comfortable fit!

If I could recommend one vitamin to supplement, it would be Vitamin D. Vitamin D is so vital to our health, and unfortunately, the majority are lacking in Vitamin D. 

This can lead to muscle weakness, fatigue, and even depression. Taking a liquid form of Vitamin D ensures you'll absorb more, and it's super easy to take. All you do is drop the amount per dose on your tongue! 

I love this trusted brand and that it's gluten-free, sodium benzoate-free, non-GMO, and vegan. Taking Vitamin D in drop form is super easy and taste-free!