How a New York City Content Creator Spent $1,000 on Wellness

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What if you had $1,000 to spend on your health?

Welcome to Wellness Diaries. In this series, we send readers $1,000 to splurge on any product, service, or experience—as long as it’s something that can enhance health. Any leftover cash is donated to a charity of the diarist’s choice.

This time, we’ve got Kate Glavan, who we selected as one of the most influential people in wellness of 2022. Beyond her gut health knowledge and HOKA-sponsored athleticism, we’re enamored by her ability to look this good while running (thanks in no small part to the matching sets she wears—she’s a true beacon of fitspo both on and off the road).

Kate spent her $1,000 on a blood biomarker kit, lion’s mane mushroom powder, and a Le Creuset stockpot (for bone broth purposes).

In the spirit of spreading influence and wellness, we’re opening up Wellness Diaries to all Nessie Readers. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to spend on health and wellness.

Kate Glavan headshot/selfie, Wellness Diary
Kate Glavan

Meet Kate

She’s a full-time content creator living in New York City, co-host of the Sea Moss Girlies podcast (and excellent meme page), and HOKA Global Athlete Ambassador.

Her charity of choice: Leftover funds were donated to Earthjustice.

Kate’s Diary

$659 InsideTracker Blood Biomarker Test

a computer graphic / clipart of two test tubes with blue liquid in them
InsideTracker

InsideTracker Ultimate Plan (44 blood biomarkers)

“A lot of information about your overall health and wellbeing can only be known through bloodwork, which is why I’ve always been curious to try out InsideTracker! InsideTracker measures 44 different blood biomarkers and creates data-driven recommendations for you to optimize your health. I’m super excited to have this access to information to learn more about my body.”

$45 LMNT Electrolyte Drink Mix

3 packets of LMNT Recharge Electrolyte Drink Mix in the flavor Watermelon Salt
LMNT Recharge

LMNT Recharge (Watermelon Salt, 30-Pack)

“I’ve had issues with dehydration in the past year and have since made consuming electrolytes a huge priority in my wellness routine. Electrolytes are really important for runners due to sweating and mineral loss while training, but I utilize electrolytes throughout my day to make sure I’m feeling my best.”

$118.85 Momentous L-Theanine, Magnesium Threonate, and Tyrosine Supplements

a bottle of Momentous L-Theanine supplements for sleep, relaxation, and focus, formulated by the Huberman Lab by Andrew Huberman, against a white background
Momentous

Huberman Lab Supplements at Momentous (L-Theanine, Magnesium Threonate, Tyrosine)

“I am a huge fan of Andrew Huberman’s Huberman Lab. I love the research and science in his podcast episodes, and I’ve always been curious to try his supplement recommendations. I’ve been a magnesium icon-trusted-source National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements “Magnesium” View Source fanatic for a few years, but I’m interested to try additional supplements he recommends, like L-theanine icon-trusted-source Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center “L-theanine” View Source and tyrosine icon-trusted-source Mount Sinai “Tyrosine” View Source and see how aspects of my wellbeing like my sleep and cognition are improved.”

$110 Le Creuset Stockpot

a blue stockpot filled with wine, blood oranges, and a stick of cinnamon on a white marble countertop. around the pot is set dressing: a ladle, a cloth, a small ceramic with cinnamon in it, an open wine bottle, the cork, the pot lid, a full wine glass with a slice of the soaked blood orange on the lip. it gives the impression of someone serving some wine that they just steeped in the kitchen.
Le Creuset

Le Creuset Stockpot (Azure, 8 qt)

“This will be the year I start saving money by making my own bone broth from scratch! I consume bone broth every day (I love the brand, Kettle & Fire) and it is an expensive habit… Thus, I really want to make my own bone broth at home with a stockpot! I’m really excited to own my first Le Creuset piece and get cooking some new recipes with it.”

$54 Sun Potion Lion’s Mane Mushroom Powder

a bottle of lion's mane supplemental mushroom powder. the lustrous gold label looks pretty against the navy jar.
Sun Potion

Sun Potion Organic Lion’s Mane Mind Power Mushroom

“Lion’s mane is an adaptogenic mushroom that helps with brain cognition and focus. It is a staple in my everyday life and I’ve noticed significant improvement since becoming regular with my consumption!”

Total: $986.85

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“This card is such an exciting addition to my wallet and it’s perfect for someone who values health and wellness but hasn’t found a credit card that rewards me for that. I love getting rewarded for wellness practices like sleeping, meditating, and moving my body—plus extra points on purchases at my favorite places like Whole Foods, ClassPass and sweetgreen. The app is easy to use and the card is designed for your definition of health and wellness, which I love. It’s flexible!”

Kira's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“It’s no secret that wellness is such an important part of my everyday life. I spend a lot of money to help fuel my love of running, recovery, nutrition and mindfulness, so the fact that I can now earn rewards for every dollar I spend with the Ness Card is amazing. My health always comes first, and the Ness Card makes that easy to do. It’s a win-win for everyone!”

Andi's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“As a new mum, wellness and self-care is a priority for me—so I can, in turn, be able to take care of my baby. I love the incentives that Ness offers for making healthier choices. And to be rewarded along the way for those purchases is such a plus!

Oh, and getting 5x point rewards on my Erewhon $20+ smoothie makes it a little more justifiable.”

Amrit's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“I made a promise to myself to find my joy again in 2023. For the past few years, I haven’t been taking care of myself mentally and physically because I’ve just been on the go and focusing on the future instead of being present. I realized that part of the reason I wasn’t happy was because I wasn’t taking care of myself. So, now with the Ness Card—which literally rewards you for staying on top of your wellness journey—I’ve easily been able to focus on my mental and physical journey. Using the card is now a part of my weekly routine, whether I’m buying groceries, going to therapy, spending a day at the spa, or treating myself to a delicious yummy meal.”

Candace's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“I love life with the Ness Card! The team behind the scenes work really hard to make it valuable and to create a sense of community, which you feel in every newsletter and hand-crafted partnership. The card itself encourages me to be even more curious about where I’m spending my money. It definitely incentivizes me to spend ‘healthier’, which is really unique. On top of that, getting points for taking more steps? There is seriously nothing like it.

David's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“My favorite thing about the Ness Card is that it rewards you for your healthy habits, and not all of them require spending. Yes, you can earn 5x points when you spend at any of their approved health and wellness merchants (think Erewhon and many of your other favorites) but you also earn points for being active daily! So now your sanity walks are literally paying off :) As someone who not only works in wellness but lives and breathes it, essentially most of my expenses live in that realm and with the Ness Card I can now be rewarded nicely for those purchases.”

Kirsty's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“I love that I have rewards to look forward to when I focus on my health and wellness. As a mom of two and full time photographer/creator, it’s hard to find time to prioritize my health and—as my body ages—I want to make sure that I’m treating it to all the TLC it needs (and deserves)! The Ness Card reminds me to take care of my mental, physical, and emotional health on the daily.”

Valerie's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“It’s refreshing to have a card app that is so easy to use. I can track my spending and rewards at the click of a button. I love getting a notification when I get extra points for getting a full night sleep or getting my steps in, though of course those are optional. I work a lot, and I feel like I get extra rewarded for taking the time to take care of myself – whether it’s therapy or simply cooking at home instead of dining out. The points accumulate really quickly, and I’ve already gotten a $1,000 credit at Erewhon in my first four months. I also go visit family in Europe a lot, and no one takes my card there, so it’s so convenient to be able to use my Ness Card without ever paying a fee.”

Mélanie's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“As someone who spends the majority of her money on wellness, the Ness Card is perfect for me! I love earning 5x points on purchases at healthy businesses that I was already making, anyways. The Ness Card also motivates me to get enough sleep, practice mindfulness and other healthy habits. The app is really user-friendly and I love watching my points add up. I am excited to redeem them for wellness-related items!”

Lauren's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“The Ness Card motivates me to keep up my healthy habits, and has helped me discover new brands and products that are in alignment with my goals. I’m not spending any more with my Ness Card, but the money I am spending on health and wellness is actually earning me rewards, benefits, and even cash back. And because Ness’s definition of a ‘healthy merchant’ is so generous, I’m able to recognize all of the small ways I practice self-care throughout the week. From buying fresh veggies to going to therapy to taking my supplements, the Ness Card is there to cheer me on: ‘Keep being healthy, girl. You deserve 5x points for that.'”

Melissa's Favorite Healthy Merchants

“The Ness Card rewards me when I spend money on health and wellness. Especially because so much of my wellness routine is spent being active, gardening, making food with my husband, getting a massage, or having some me time, it is nice to be rewarded for that with points that are with brands I shop at all the time anyway. It allows my wellness choices to work harder which I love.”

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