Self-care is a term that gets thrown around so loosely these days. I define self-care as simply taking care of your body, mind, and soul. I want to make sure that in this community, we not only talk about self-care but we actually practice it. Self-care is not selfish and we have to make sure that we are making ourselves a priority and taking care of ourselves.

This post was sponsored by Any Lab Test Now, but all opinions are my own. Huge thanks to the companies that make Single Black Motherhood possible and help me educate my community.

If you have been around here for a while, you know I always preach about putting ourselves at the top of our to-do-lists. If you haven’t, welcome! I like to make sure us single moms take care of ourselves! What good are we to our kids if our bodies are in horrible shape? It is our responsibility to maintain a healthy lifestyle so that we can be in the best shape to parent. I try my best to stay proactive when it comes down to my health so when I was given the opportunity to visit Any Lab Test Now, a testing site that provides direct access to clinical, DNA, and drug and alcohol testing, I got excited. I chose the Micronutrient Panel because I know that micronutrients are required to maintain a healthy immune system. The panel that the lab does allows them to look at my body’s ability to absorb minerals and nutrients, including Vitamins A, C, D, E, Iron, and Zinc. It is always better to get your nutrients from food instead of supplements, if you can.

I also opted to get a Vitamin B-12 shot. I used to think it was mainly used to increase energy. So, I thought - I can always use more energy as a single mom. Who can’t? To my surprise B-12 does not actually give you energy. However, a lack of (or deficiency) B-12 can lead to tiredness (which makes sense as to why people say it gives you energy), weakness, loss of appetite, anemia, and so much more. So it’s more of a preventative measure so that you aren’t tired and weak. Click here for an exclusive coupon for a FREE B-12 shot!

You know how important having a healthy immune system is these days in the midst of a global pandemic. If we didn’t learn anything else last year, we learned the importance of having a healthy immune system in order to fight off infections and viruses.

About the Lab

Any Lab Test Now has locations around the United States, with 15 locations in Houston, so I chose to visit the location closest to me, which is in Sugar Land. They offer thousands of tests and panels with categories such as General Health (think Annual Check-Up Panel, Allergy Testing, and Hormone Panels), DNA, STD, Drugs and Alcohol, and so much more. They even offer COVID-19 RT- PCR and Antibody Tests at select locations! Insurance is not accepted which is great to use cash, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), or Health Saving Accounts (HSAs). They provide the doctor’s order so you can literally pick any test you like. Scheduling is easy and suggested, but walk-ins are accepted. I love that they empower you to take control of your health and educate you in the process!

What the Testing Was Like

Upon my arrival, I could see that the facility definitely practiced all of the safety measures for COVID-19, which made me feel at ease. The facility was clean. The staff wore masks and they had hand sanitizer available for use. After I checked in, I was given paperwork to complete. Once I finished, I was taken back to the lab area. The medical assistant explained the process, including how long it would take to get my results. She collected my samples and I was in and out in less than 30 minutes!

Getting Results

I received my results from Any Lab Test Now via email, which also contained their contact number to call if I had any questions. The report gave me a breakdown of various vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. The report indicated whether I had nutrient sufficiency (the right amount), borderline insufficiency (close to less than the right amount), or insufficiency (less than the right amount). This really gave me an idea of where l was lacking. I was honestly shocked to find that I was insufficient in a lot of the B vitamins (so I actually needed the shot) and vitamin C. My iron was borderline insufficient.

This really showed me that I haven’t been eating as bad as I think, but I can definitely improve. I haven’t taken my multivitamins in the past few weeks because I really wanted the test to give me a true indication of what my body absorbs from the things I eat daily. After going through the results (photo shown below), the report provides a breakdown of significant micronutrients, why they are important, and what foods you can eat to gain the nutrients your body is lacking. You can also take your results to a nutritionist and get a customized food plan so that you make sure you are getting the nutrients your body needs everyday.

Implementing Change

I haven’t been consuming fruits and vegetables like I used to, so I will be getting back to my smoothies and having fruits and vegetables for snack to make sure I increase my Vitamin C level. I aim to eat salmon (or some other seafood) every other week but after seeing that my iron is borderline insufficient, I’m going to aim for every week and implement more lean red beef (which I was only eating on a rare basis) into my diet to increase my iron level. Because I have such an insufficiency in the B-vitamin complex, I am going to purchase a supplement to increase my sufficiency.

Overall, I am not doing as bad as I thought, considering how I have fallen off the nutrition track during this pandemic. This was an amazing opportunity to check on my body and improve.

I want to encourage each of you to practice some self-care, take control of your health, and check out Any Lab Test Now to find a test that suits your needs. They make sure that everyone has access to all types of testing, with affordable pricing and you can even discuss your results with a professional.

Click here to find a location near you!