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So, you’ve started taking OSN Active Guard Synbiotics, excited to boost your gut health, and suddenly you feel... off. Maybe bloated, gassy, even flu-like. Wait, isn’t this supposed to make you feel better?

Don’t worry! You’re not alone, and you’re definitely not doing it wrong. What you’re likely experiencing is something called a healing crisis, or in scientific terms, the Herxheimer Reaction.

What Is a Healing Crisis?

When you introduce OSN Active Guard synbiotics into your gut, especially potent ones like Active Guard, with 17 strains of beneficial bacteria, your body starts a major clean-up operation.

The good bacteria get to work fast, crowding out and killing off harmful bacteria, yeast, and pathogens. As this die-off happens, toxins and by-products (like endotoxins) are released into your system. This can temporarily overwhelm your body’s detoxification and immune systems, triggering symptoms such as:

• Bloating

• Gas

• Mild flu-like feelings

• Headaches

• Brain fog

• Diarrhoea

• Flare Ups
  

This reaction is your body adjusting to a healthier internal environment. Think of it like deep-cleaning your house, the mess gets worse before it gets better.

How Long Does It Last?

The healing crisis doesn’t last forever. In most cases, symptoms resolve within a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on your body’s current health, gut condition, and lifestyle habits. Some factors that can affect duration:

• How imbalanced your gut was before starting
  

• Your hydration and fiber intake (important for flushing out toxins!)
  

• Overall immunity and stress levels
  
  

Rest assured: these symptoms are temporary and usually a sign that your body is beginning to rebalance.

Why It Happens?

Most of us are used to quick fixes that stop symptoms fast. But in natural health and functional medicine, healing crises are a recognized and expected part of restorative processes. As the good bacteria push out harmful ones, your body may go through a short adjustment period. This is why you might feel worse before you feel better, and it's not unique to OSN Active Guard Synbiotics.

Think about it:

• After a facial, your skin might break out before it clears up. That’s your pores releasing trapped impurities.
  
  

• After a deep tissue massage, your body might feel sore the next day. That’s your muscles releasing tension and toxins.
  
  

• After starting a workout routine, you might feel tired and achy before your body becomes stronger.
  
  

• Even with a detox or clean eating plan, some people feel sluggish or moody at first before experiencing better energy and digestion.
  
  

Healing often involves a short period of adjustment. The same goes for your gut when you start feeding it with good bacteria.

Tips to Support Your Body Through a Healing Crisis

1. Stay Hydrated – Water helps flush toxins.
   

2. Eat Clean – Avoid sugar and processed foods that feed bad bacteria.
   

3. Get Enough Sleep – Rest supports your body’s repair processes.
   

4. Stay Calm – Remind yourself this is temporary and a sign your gut is getting stronger.

Have a read about Hayden’s eczema recovery, where he mentioned experiencing flare-ups in the beginning.

These days, you can work anywhere as long as you have a device that connects to the internet. But with this convenience comes a new challenge: the Sedentary Lifestyle, a.k.a. spending most of your time sitting down with little physical exercise. Now that everything’s at our fingertips, we have to go out of our way to make healthy decisions. If you’re thinking of taking your first step, here is some advice to make your journey as smooth as possible!

Kickstart things at your own pace

When people want to make a drastic life change, they tend to go all-out and overwork themselves. In truth, that does your body more harm than good. Instead, you should workout according to what you can handle, then slowly increase your frequency and intensity as you improve. 

Quick tip: Have a healthy snack or drink pre-workout to supply you the energy you need. OSN Activia is a great option as it improves your endurance during the workout, while quickening muscle recovery post-workout.

Start with beginner exercises

When people want to make a drastic life change, they tend to go all-out and overwork themselves. In truth, that does your body more harm than good. Instead, you should workout according to what you can handle, then slowly increase your frequency and intensity as you improve. 

Quick tip: Have a healthy snack or drink pre-workout to supply you the energy you need. OSN Activia is a great option as it improves your endurance during the workout, while quickening muscle recovery post-workout. 

If you’re comfortable, challenge yourself!

The first sign of growth is when your exercise routine becomes too easy for you. When that happens, it means that your body is ready to try something more challenging. It may seem daunting at first, but remember that you wouldn’t be here if you’re not ready. 

To make it even more fun, try participating in a month-long online challenge with others. Not only does it give you a clear goal to achieve, doing this with friends also makes you feel more accountable. (Online friends count too!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha236I-ulzY&list=PL2xMLobohuZp-HWXS2l2ED7CcSA-zwrX4

Workout your mental muscles

Once you’re getting into the groove of physical exercise, don’t forget to take care of how you feel mentally. For some, it’s easy to fall down a spiral of calorie and weight tracking, but remember that your health is more than a bunch of numbers.

Being healthy means you feel positive and have plenty of energy to go about your days. At the same time, you’re investing in your future so you can continue to stay on your feet, even in old age. However, if you can’t shake your concerns, it may help to get a professional opinion. Mental illnesses related to exercise and weight is a real issue, and there’s nothing wrong with reaching out for help.

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Everybody has a different health journey, and I hope these tips help you on yours. For your fellow beginners – share your favourite online exercise routine in the comments below!

When you’re stuck at home, it’s easy to give in to the temptation of unhealthy snacking. However, if you’re opening the fridge for the fifth time today, it’s probably time to do something about it. Instead of trying to go cold turkey on snacking, why not opt for a healthier option? Here are some quick and delicious snacks, which take less than 10 minutes to prepare!

1. Yoghurt with mixed berries

Time required: Less than 5 minutes

Chilled, sweet, and guilt-free – this treat will become your new favourite! To prepare it, you can buy pre-made yoghurt with berries at the store, or buy both ingredients separately and combine them at home. For the ultimate fruity flavour, mix one tablespoon of fruit or berry jam into your yoghurt, then top it off with fresh berries. The best thing is – you can add as much as you like!

2. Chia seed drink

Time required: Less than 2 minutes

If you’re having a busy day, this healthy drink will help you get rid of hunger pangs in an instant. All you need to do is pour one sachet of OSN Activia into a glass of room temperature water. Wait for 2-3 minutes, stir then drink! Not only is it incredibly quick to prepare, it’s also naturally sweetened with Monk Fruit (Luo Han Guo) which you can only find in some parts of Asia.

Quick tip: You can adjust the amount of water in your glass, or even add other fresh juices, smoothies, or yoghurts until you reach the taste that’s perfect for you.

3. Nutty trail mix

Time required: Less than 10 minutes

Nuts are a perfect balance of protein, fibre, and healthy fats – and they’re a yummy snack too! Customise your own nutty trail mix with different types of nuts, then pop them into the toaster or oven for a crispier texture. For a little more variety, you can add other healthy elements like seeds and dried fruit. If you feel like treating yourself, you can even add in dark chocolate, pretzels, or popcorn.

4. Mixed vegetable salad

Time required: Less than 10 minutes

If you’re looking for a fresh snack, you can never go wrong with mixed vegetable salad! Some basic ingredients for beginners include cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, salad leaves, avocados, and bell peppers. For the healthiest combination, stick to the greens when you’re snacking and save the animal-based proteins (e.g. tuna, chicken) for your three meals of the day. Instead, you can add toasted nuts and croutons to add texture and flavour to your snack.

5. Fresh fruits

Time required: Less than 5 minutes

When was the last time you ate fruits? If you don’t remember, then now’s as good a time as any. For a quick and easy snack, go for apples and bananas that are easy to eat while you’re occupied. When you have more time, switch it up with fruits of different colours, as each boast different types of nutrients. 

Important tip: Always make sure to eat your fruits fresh! The longer they’re exposed to air, the less vitamin C the fruit will contain.

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Which of these snacks will you be trying at home? Do you have a healthy snack that we missed out on our list? Leave us a comment below, we’d love to hear from you!