PART 2 HONEY FOR YOUR HEALTH

This will be a continued post on HONEY!! Honey for your health! 

While honey looks good, smells good and taste good... It's also a healthy sweet treat that will assist your body with additional help to boost antioxidants within your body, as well as, increase antibacterial/antiviral properties. 

This post will deal with HONEY AND ANTIOXIDANTS.  

Why does everyone continually talk about antioxidants?

It's said that Antioxidants assist our body by preventing diseases like cancers and certain heart diseases. 

Increasing antioxidants in your body is the equivalent to having the Justice League available to support you in fighting unhealthy free radicals. 

Antioxidants are heroes helping to keep your body safe from nasty free radicals that may try to take over your innards. (I may have taken that description a little too far... pardon my imagination and creativity)

How does honey become rich in antioxidants?

We are all aware that honey is made by honey bees from nectar of flowers and plants... right? (If you don't know... NOW YOU KNOW - in my best Biggie Smalls voice)

In order for honey to be rich in antioxidants the nectar that is gathered must come from flowers/plants that have antioxidants in them. 

If you're anything like ME... your thought would be well which honey has the highest amount of antioxidants?

According to Nicki Engeseth, PhD, Assistant Professor of food chemistry at the University of Illinois, "Buckwheat is the highest of the honeys tested, with about 3 times as many antioxidants as acacia honey, which is much lighter in color,"

The darker the honey... the more antioxidants seem to be present. 

Now please keep in the mind... Buckwheat honey will taste different from other honey

. 

Buckwheat honey is known for reminding you of molasses (at least that's the word on the street).

SO! If you are a molasses lover, KUDOS for you! ROCK ON! But if you're not a molasses lover, take heed to my warning. 

Do I recommend that honey be taken to increase antioxidants in your body? 

SURE! but let's be honest here, please continue your fruits, veggies and other supplements you may ingest to increase antioxidants in your body. HONEY can only do so much.

Here’s how I incorporate honey into my diet:

Instead of reaching for white sugar, I'll reach for honey to add to my tea/coffee or hot breakfast cereals. I also add honey onto my toast (YUM) and I swallow a teaspoon of honey almost every other day! (That's why I'm so sweet... wink wink)

Honey offers a nice change when you're looking for a sweet substitute and

WHAT’S BETTER THAN HAVING A SWEET SUBSTITUTE THAT CAN BE BENEFICIAL TO YOUR HEALTH! (Confetti is falling)

NEXT ON MY SHOPPING LIST! RAW BUCKWHEAT HONEY!

PS… I’m not a molasses girl LOL! (Stay Tuned for that review)

Photo ref - http://gambarubee.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/buckwheat-honey.jpg

Hey Honey!

Hello Honey! Did you know honey has a multitude of benefits? Honey is a tried-and-true natural remedy for beauty, health and wellness. 


After becoming an au natural gal, I would often times hear folks say, "just pick up a jar of honey at your local grocery store" OR  "use organic honey ONLY."


What is Organic Honey? 
Well, according to Honey World and the USDA, "Honey is currently NOT included in the USDA’s National Organic Standard according to a recent policy statement by the USDA’s National Organic Program. This basically means that there is no legal definition of organic U.S. honey." 

Of course I couldn't believe it!! ORGANIC HONEY HAS NO LEGAL DEFINITION! (o_O)
According to The Brookfield Farm Bees & Honey "Your honey can be certified organic by the US government, although they have no regulations to define organic honey."

Photograph by Tony Hutchings/Getty Image

So... what about Raw Honey, right? 
Apparently, there is no "real" definition for raw honey also! I know right. Basically, Raw Honey is unpasteurized, unprocessed, unheated honey. Raw honey is an alkaline-forming food. It is best none for it's natural vitamins and antioxidants.

Well now I wondered about Regular Honey.
Regular honey, is pasteurized honey. This honey has basically been heated up ladies and gents. Some say the process of pasteurizing honey kills "bacteria" (like yeast) found in honey and other's say this makes honey's health benefits null and void! (Whomp Whomp) 

Like most folks, I drive to the store, find the magical aisle where honey resides, pick up the jar labeled HONEY, put in the cart and away I go; BUT was it really honey? Did bees make that honey? Should I care? 
I really didn't care until I asked my kiddies to buy mommy a jar of honey. They bought a bear shaped jar of HONEY SYRUP. I explained to my kiddies how important it is... to READ first of all and I began to explain to them this was not the honey I was looking for. The first thing they said was, "it said HONEY and it was in a bear jar". At any rate Honey Syrup could not soothe my upset tummy.

The lesson here is the following:
Just because it's sitting on the top shelf near the Smuckers jams, jellies and Skippy peanut butter (No shade thrown here - I am a regular on this aisle.) OR because it's in a bear shaped container or a odd shaped jar, labeled with cute, smiling honey bees in a wispy motion, does not mean it's the type of honey I'm looking for. Check out the label. Raw Honey is not Regular Honey... HONEY! 

This is PART 1 of a continued post on all things HONEY related.  

HEALTHY SMILES AND J. COLE (SMILE WITH ME)

MY SMILE!! Many of you may or may not know that this BUT the Choqolate Chiq doesn't have a perfect smile. However, I smile anyway (I have a BIG SMILE). In the past I would often cover up my smile. As I mature and get older, I tend not to care so much about covering my smile. One morning I woke up and heard J. Cole's latest song, Crooked Smile. This song had me rocking and smiling!! I LOVED IT for so many reasons!!

Smiling is good for the mind, body, heart and soul! It's really not about a crooked smile or perfect smile BUT it's all about a genuine, true, authentic SMILE!  

It is a known fact that there are many types of smiles. I tend to say we have the fake smile (I am guilty of this one in pictures) and we have the genuine smile (I am good for this one too LOL). The healthy smile is actually the true smile better known as the Duchenne smile.

French neurologist Dr. Guillaume Duchenne, investigated/studied the difference between True Smile and the False Smile.

How to recognize a genuine smile:
The genuine smile causes the Zygomatic muscles of the cheek to raise the corners of the mouth and the Orbicularis Oculi muscles of the eye (raising the cheeks and forming crow's feet around the eye). ALL of these signs indicate that the smile is genuine and that the person smiling is truly happy.           

Why do you want a genuine smile?
The true and genuine SMILE stimulates happy places in your body which cause "good" chemicals to be released, thus relieving you of stress and depression!! (I am sure when you think about it... you will agree)

I recently read an article on smiling and this description actually sums up why smiling is healthy! "On a biochemical level, smiling releases endorphins and serotonin. Endorphins are natural painkillers. The more endorphins your brain releases, the more your body can fight off symptoms of illness."

Isn't that wonderful (smile)!!

"Similarly, serotonin is a brain chemical that acts as a natural anti-depressant. Reshaping our mouth from a frown to a smile literally sparks serotonins dramatically shifting our sense of well-being from negative to positive."

PRESS PLAY AND SMILE WITH ME !!

(make sure it's a real smile)

Check out the link below for more information on smiling.
To purchase this song go onto Google Play

Thank you Underground Health Reporter for sharing & Celeste Yarnall, PhD
Read more: http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/duchenne-smile-benefits#ixzz2Xd0kzgSL
Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-health-benefits-of-smiling.html#ixzz2Xd02zrJT

Abercrombie & Fitch's CEO Mike Jefferies views on The Plus Size Community

HELLO WORLD!! I am sure you've heard about Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jefferies statements regarding Abercrombie & Fitch views on LARGE PEOPLE right? If not, this is what Mr. Jefferies said,

“He doesn't want larger people shopping in his store, he wants thin and beautiful people," 

"He doesn't want his core customers to see people who aren't as hot as them wearing his clothing. People who wear his clothing should feel like they're one of the 'cool kids."

“In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids,”

“Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely."

NOW THE MESSAGE I WANT TO GET OUT TO ALL TEENAGERS!! Please do not fall apart because Mr. Jefferies has a certain view on how Abercrombie & Fitch's customers should look. After-all what does he know? Mr. Jefferies doesn't seem to be happy within his own skin (hence the Botox stare presented in the picture above). 

My message to our blooming young adults is to Love Yourself! You are beautifully and wonderfully made!! Realize that you are an original. Whether you’re a slim size 2 or a curvy size 16; realize true BEAUTY and ATTRACTIVENESS starts from within. It's important to have a great attitude and a kind heart. These 2 traits will cause your outer appearance to shine! Thus... making you stunning!!

Be beautiful inside out! Remember CLOTHING is simply worn to keep you from being a naked BEAUTY. 

I would like ALL TEENS to STAY HEALTHY, SMILE OFTEN AND SHOP AT OTHER STORES! (Don’t support brands that do not support you)

 Audrey Hepburn said it best.

"I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls"

Kudos to those stores that carry over a size 10, like,  H&M, Old Navy, American Eagle, GAP and host of others.

pics courtesy of H&M, Old Navy, American Eagle, GAP 

Hooked on Sweet Almond Oil

Hello World... Yes I Am Hooked on Sweet Almond Oil

The San Francisco Bay Area weather has been a ball of confusion lately(all 4 seasons in one day)... but that doesn't stop me from glowing! What do I mean... I mean Sweet Almond Oil. I'm hooked! I've been using Sweet Almond Oil every day and let me tell you the results I am receiving have been great! After my shower/bath I just pour this lovely sweet smelling oil on me and I am left with a glow! My skin is reacting wonderfully to it. Did I mention the sweet smell... Yes I smell like a sweet treat (smiling)

Here are some facts about Sweet Almond Oil It's a rich source of vitamin E
Apart from vitamin E it also contains vitamin A
It soothes and softens the skin
Helps to relieve skin irritation
It's a great moisturizer YES it can treat dry skin by balancing the skin's moisture level
Almond oil does not leave you with a oily skin (which I love) - It's a lightweight oil
It's great for aromatherapy and for massages
Speaking of massages... I also massage my scalp with the Sweet Almond Oil
Yes it can be used for your hair also

(Natural Hair Soul Clap)
Almond oil is rich in protein, which can strengthen your hair

Below is an informative article provided by Ehow on Almond Oilhttp://www.ehow.com/about_4609148_benefits-almond-oil.htmla