As the gatekeepers of our homes we have such a great opportunity to bring in healthy products and create healthy habits for ourselves and families. Join us as we share the gift of health and switch a conventional hostess gift of wine to one full of great benefits - NingXia Red!

We love loving on our friends and family, and what better way to say thank you for hosting than to give them something special and delicious that can benefit their health in a huge way! Especially during a season where we are consuming more sugar and have a busier schedule, we want to do everything we can to give our bodies the good stuff they need. Enter NingXia Red!

WHY WE LOVE IT NingXia Red is an excellent whole-food source of nutrients that tastes great, gives energy and strengthens the body without harmful stimulates. It also has an amazing low glycemic index of 11 that does not spike the blood sugar levels and makes a mean mocktail. NingXia Red...

• Supports a healthy immune system
• Helps us be proactive against all the germs coming our way
• Provides energy support
• Is a HUGE source of antioxidants
• Support brain and joint health
• Supports healthy hormone levels
• Supports healthy blood sugar levels
• Can help curb sugar cravings

KEY INGREDIENTS NingXia Red is rich in ellagic acid, polyphenols, flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, it has 18 amino acids, 21 trace minerals, beta-carotene, and vitamins B1, B2, B6, and E. It contains Yuzu, Tangerine, Lemon and Orange essential oils that enhance the taste and add great health benefits!

GIFT IDEAS

• Place a bottle of NingXia Red in a lovely reusable wine gift bag and tie with twine and a sprig of fresh rosemary.
• Pair a bottle of NingXia Red with a festive dish towel and simple handmade sugar scrub to keep at the kitchen sink.
• Make a hostess gift basket. The best thing about this is you can scale it however you like! Find a wicker or tin basket with a handle (thrift and antique stores are great for this!) and add any or all of the following:
  • A bottle or two of NingXia Red
  • A fresh rosemary plant in a ceramic or tin pot
  • A festive dish towel or pot holder
  • A Tranquil or Stress Away roller
  • A CBD Calm roller
  • Your favorite DIY roller blend
  • A small diffuser and premade diffuser blend
  • Homemade vanilla extract or an infused olive oil
  • A set of beeswax taper candles or a beeswax jar candle
  • A festive flavor of sparkling water to add to the NingXia Red
  • A set of fun, festive glassware Take a picture of your NingXia Red hostess gifts and tag us over on Instagram so we can see how beautiful they are!! @lifestepsapp

Want to know why we are ditching the wine for NingXia Red (besides all the incredible health benefits)?? How about a little wine background…

A FEW NOTES ON WINE... Did you know that the only thing required to be on a wine label is the percentage of alcohol it contains? And even that doesn't have to be completely accurate. None of the fillers, additives or colorants used in the wine have to be disclosed. Which sounds a little scary if we're being honest! Let's take a quick look at exactly what is in conventional wines (yes even the organic ones)… you might be surprised!

Additives are added to wine to change the flavor, add coloring, increase sweetness and more. And they aren't disclosed on the ingredients label either. Some commonly used additives (that are also approved by the FDA) include:

• Sugars
• Sulfites
• Colorings like Mega Purple and Ultra Red.
• Tartaric acid
• Yeast products
• Food grade dry ice
• Acetaldehyde
• Albumen (egg white)
• Milk products (pasteurized whole, skim, or half-and-half)
• Silica gel (colloidal silicon dioxide)
• Soy flour
• Defoaming agents (polyoxyethylene 40 monostearate, silicon dioxide, dimethylpoly-siloxane, sorbitan monostearate, glyceryl mono-oleate and glyceryl dioleate)
• The FDA has approved more than 70 additives that can be found in wine

These additives have to be below a certain level, but we know from our experience with household chemicals and cleaners that small exposures over time can be harmful as well. And this list doesn't even account for the pesticides sprayed on the grapes themselves.

With all the additives, the pesticides and even the naturally occurring constituents in grapes that come out during fermentation, it's no wonder wine (especially red wine) is the culprit for headaches. Tannins, sulfites and histamine are likely the instigators here. Tannins spur the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which at high levels can cause headaches. Sulfites (yep, even in organic wines) can trigger headaches, asthma and allergic reactions. Histamine dilates blood vessels and can cause headaches that way. To make matters worse, some people lack the enzyme that helps metabolize histamine, which may make them more prone to wine headaches. Oy.

It's not all doom and gloom though. And we're not saying you can never have wine, but just like anything else we want to always be aware of what we are putting in our bodies.

Join us as we switch out conventional hostess gifts for the gift of health and NingXia Red!