My Newest Project: Aloe Vera Juice

Can't wait to try this!!

Aloe Vera
Check out Natural News and read about the amazing health benefits of aloe vera:
http://www.naturalnews.com/021858_aloe_vera_gel.html

And check out videos 1 and 3.
G-d bless!!!

Amalek

Every age has its myths, its trends to be idolized and followed by the "masses." Most people follow the trend and seek to identify with them and its role models. It's a very powerful current and it's very difficult not to get caught up in it. After all we want to be seen as "normal."

However, many myths and trends, created by Amalek, conceal truths and form a web of lies designed to plunge people into great ignorance, exploitation, and ultimately death.
Never heard of Amalek??
Truth is you've already met him. Them.
It is an idea and the people (who may be white or black) that enforce it. Perversion of justice.
Their main tool: deception.



We exhale carbon dioxide.
So, what exactly is the plan to lower the numbers of carbon dioxide emissions?
World population is about 9 billion.
"If we do a really great job with new vaccines, healthcare, and reproductive health services, we can lower that by perhaps 10 to 15 percent..."

Sounds fishy?

Sounds farfetched?

Good.

You've just officially met Amalek.

G-d protect!

The Diet

"The same culprit is undermining the health and well-being of everyone. The culprit is the diet. Specifically we have been conditioned to ingest so called 'foods' that create an acid environment in the body. Black people in particular are so removed from what our genetic constitution requires to be nutritionally sound."

"For optimal health, the Black Man's genetic constitution requires the consistent consumption of organic natural plant food, that is vegetation that grows naturally, not created in a laboratory."

-Dr. Sebi

G-d bless!

Check it out:

http://drsebi.com

Ingredients to Avoid in Skin Care Products

Whether we're olive, dark or fair, our skin is not to be taken for granted.
As our waterproof and insulating shield, our skin stands as the largest organ,
bravely defending us from outside invaders.

It is divided into three layers: the outer epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous layer. A protein called keratin forms the epidermis and contains Langerhan cells that stand guard against viruses and other invaders.
Blood vessels, hair follicles and glands make up the dermis layer.
And as the last layer, the subcutis has a layer of fat reserved for possible times of food shortage.

As impressive as our skin may be, it is still quite vulnerable. Especially if we lather onto it, lotions and creams with toxic ingredients that will literally SIT on our skin for hours.

Remember, big industries are NOT INTERESTED in keeping you healthy. They are interested in using cost-effective substances that will save them money and that will pocket yours. A skin care product may be loaded with carcinogenic/cancer-causing materials that we may not even know about. Just b/c the front label may say "all-natural," it pays to read the ingredients.

Basically, it is up to us to be smart and investigate. We cannot simply follow the tide and blindly accept what is on the store shelves. It doesn't matter from what walk of life we come from. We have the ability to find out what is good and healthy for us. And we are not alone in our search.

During these cold, winter months my skin gets extra dry, and I REALLY need a moisturizer. I'm not interested in going out with ashy skin! B/w products like Weleda and Schwartz Natural Cosmetics, I pay more but worry less. I believe the real goal is making our own lotion from cocoa butter/shea butter....

Below is a list compiled from Dr. Mercola's website about dangerous ingredients found in skin care products. When checking the ingredients of your favorite lotion, you might be distubed to find that they come up often. (Don't be fooled by the pretty package...)

But, y'all, if we don't buy the stuff, they'll stop makin'em.

I don't want poison on my skin.

And I don't want it on yours.

Here they are:
Parabens

Mineral Oil, Paraffin, Petrolatum

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Acrylamide

Propylene glycol

Phenol carbolic acid

Dioxane

Toluene

Parabens are linked w/ cancer b/c they have estrogen-mimicing properties. Do we really need more estrogen?? Petrolatum clogs up pores, causing a buildup of toxins. Acrylamide is linked w/ mammary/breast tumors. Dioxane may also be carcinogenic and is hidden in ingredients like PEG, polysorbates, laureth, etc.

There are healthier alternatives. And, yes, they may be more expensive. Or are they?

G-d bless and Happy, Healthy New Year!!!

For a full explanation check out

http://www.mercolahealthyskin.com/

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/health-and-human-body/human-body/skin-article/

http://www.organicfood.co.il/en/brands.html

G-d bless!

An African American Doula....

This is so amazing!
http://www.blackpublicmedia.org/catalog/prod/37

Lactose Intolerance

Did you know that 30-50 million Americans are lactose intolerant?

Around 80% of African Americans (some source say 70%)

80-100% of Amerian Indians

90-100% of Asian Amerians

The condition is less common among those of Northern European descent.

Everyone is born with the enzyme called lactase that helps to digest the milk sugar lactose. Thus, babies can drink breast milk. After age 2, lactase production decreases. (A natural state...) Northern Europeans and their descendants have adapted more to dairy food consumption than other groups.

Lactose intolerance usually results in gas, bloating, cramps, or diarrhea as the lactose simply doesn't get digested in the body.

I don't remember being lactose intolerant, but I remember my mom suffering from pains from it. So she would drink a glass only once in awhile.

The condition varies from person to person. One might be able to drink three glasses of milk w/o symptoms while another can only do one, etc.

Interestingly, aged cheeses like Cheddar/Swiss wouldn't pose a problem (for most folks) b/c it has little or no lactose. Also cultured yogurts are stomach friendly b/c the culturing (bacteria) restores enzymes, including lactase that was destroyed in pasteurization. Basically, fermentation makes dairy more friendly to those who can't support it.

So, as an African American, am I supposed to stop consuming dairy products?
Again, I don't remember being lactose intolerant...

Well, dietician Byers writes in Journal of the American College of Nutrition that "The ‘African-American diet’ is more likely to be low in a variety of vitamins and minerals, including calcium. African-Americans consume low amounts of dairy foods and do not meet recommended intakes of a variety of vitamins and minerals, including calcium."

Well, I understand why we're eating less dairy foods if many of us can't digest it! But, the fact that our diet is low in a variety of vitamins and minerals, including calcium IS a concern.
B/c for people who can't tolerate it, milk isn't the only calcium source. (Calcium is absorbed best with the presence of other vitamins, ie Vitamin D)

However, with the ads pushing milk drinking, and with the tendency to avoid veggies where exactly are we going to get these vitamins and minerals?? Hmm...

According to Sally Fallon, only in the West is milk consumed in an unfermented state. Before industrialization, traditional societies would consume yogurts, cheese, curds and whey. The tall, Massai tribesmen of Africa have milk as their principal food-always in a soured or cultured form.
Remember, with fermentation there is no lactose intolerance problem.

And today, in Europe and Asia, friendly bacteria-containing foods (called probiotics) in yogurts and drinks, etc are more popular than in the US, where supplements are consumed frequently.

So do you have a "condition" if you're lactose intolerant? Why, if afterall, lactase decreases naturally for most? A problem does exist if you have no good sources of calcium and other vitaminerals. And it's good to remember that the degree of intolerance varies from person to person (if at all for you).

And so the questions persist: How to improve the African American diet? How to improve my diet? Can we start eating something green? And how can I make cultured yogurt taste good? ('cuz with a name like that....!)
lol

G-d bless!

(If you can get organic dairy products, it's always best...)

Check it out:

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/lactoseintolerance/
http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/nutri/probiotic-food.asp
http://www.godairyfree.org/Table/Health-Info/Lactose-Intolerance/
http://www.jacn.org/cgi/content/abstract/24/suppl_6/569S
Fallon, Nourishing Traditions

Vitamin D: Sunlight-Only $69.99

Part III
So, people are running for shade. And it's understandable why.

Skin cancer is a serious disease. In 2005, 50,589 Caucasions were affected with it. (1,112 Hispanics, and 261 African Americans/Center for Disease Control)
We just don't want to go there.

But some doctors are saying that the message is being taken too far. Dr. James Dowd, a rheumatologist and author of The Vitamin D Cure says, "Many dermatologists have thrown the baby out with the bath water."

When Dr. Holick began publicizing the benefits of sunlight/ vitamin D, he was lambasted by dermatologists and even asked to RESIGN from his position at the dermatology dept. at the university!

He says that the American Academy of Dermatology is well-funded by the sunscreen industry...

But these "rebel" doctors aren't even telling folks to go spend hours in the sun! Dr. Holick recommends a light-skinned person to spend 5-10 minutes in the sun, and then cover up. (this is in the summer months) Those with darker skin need more time and should spend 15-30 minutes longer. Other vitamin D experts say 10-20 mins for a light skinned and ATLEAST twice as much for a darker skinned.

I found that the exacts amounts of vitamin D required varied depending on the source. Typically, it was around 1,000 units for adults. (Hmmm, how am I supposed to count that?) Others say more is needed. (The battle goes on...)

And what about foods?

This is what the American Academy of Dermatology says: "Under no circumstances should anyone be misled into thinking that natural sunlight or tanning beds are better sources of vitamin D than foods or nutritional supplements. The only thing they are proven to be better at is increasing your risk of developing skin cancer."

(Well, I agree about the tanning beds! The World Health Organization stated in 2005 that the use of tanning beds increased the risk of skin cancer...)


Indeed, oily fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines, also egg yolks and beef liver are high in vitamin D. (woohoo!) Cod liver oil has got it. Milk, orange juice, and some cereals are also fortified with the vitamin. (Note: It's Vitamin D2)

Definitely good meal choices during the winter months when there is less sun. Dr. Cannell, Vitamin D Council, writes that diets rich in vegetables, fruits, and omega-3fats, and avoiding too much omega-6 and trans-fats—also protects your skin from burning.

But know!

Some say it would take 10 cups of fortified milk and 25 cups of fortified cornflakes each day to get 1,000 units of vitamin D. And you'd have to have fish 3-5 times a week. (Don't mind the fish...)

The good news is that once a person has racked up vitamin D in their body during the summer months, it is stored in the body as fat and can be used during the winter months when it's really needed.

(G-d is clever!)

There continues to be skeptics about the effectiveness of vitamin D re: cancer. And, maybe that's healthy. To rely on one vitamin to solve this disease sounds too good to be true, but rather an interaction of necessary vitamins and minerals does make sense. Everything has to work together...

Ok, I am understanding more about sunlight and the clear benefits of vitamin D. And, honestly, completely hiding away from the sun doesn't even sound sane! However, it does have to be done smart.

But why would anyone want to promote sunshine? It can't be packaged and sold... And why promote it if African Americans are the ones who stand to benefit more?

And, back to my original question: Do African Americans wear sunscreen??

G-d bless!

http://www.miamiherald.com/277/v-print/story/503619.html

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs287/en/index.html

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/

Vitamin D: Benefits

Part II

Dr. Holick went to visit a woman in a hospital. The woman had a lot of bone pain, muscle pain and aches. She couldn't even walk. Dr. Holick recognized the problem right away. The lady was African American suffering from adult rickets: softening of the bones. He put her on a therapy of vitamin D and sun exposure. And, in fact, in a month/two, the lady was able to walk with a walker.

Here's something else.

African Americans have the highest death rate of any racial and ethnic group in the U.S. for most cancers," said Otis W. Brawley, M.D., American Cancer Society chief medical officer.

And YET, research is showing that vitamin D helps lower the risk of many cancers including prostate, breast, and colon. The Cancer Recovery Foundation claim that vitamin D helps reduce certain cancer by 77%. The Vitamin D Council goes so far as to say that prostate cancer IS a vitamin D deficiency that people just are not aware of!

I really wanted to understand this.

Bursting forth from the hot sun are invisible rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC. The UVB ray is considered the "burning" ray, but it also causes our bodies to make vitamin D.

So, I'm outside. The UVB ray hits my skin, and a flurry of activity begins. A certain type of cholesterol goes through a series of transformation that results into an active form of vitamin D. (It's D3)

And why exactly do I want this?

It definitely makes us feel good. And as we're learning, vitamin D helps with calcium absorption. It helps regulate melatonin-the hormone that causes us to fall asleep. But the really amazing part is that it helps regulate cell growth, in the prostate, breast, colon, and other tissues. And that may be why vitamin D helps combat cancer. (B/c cancer is growth out of control)

Unfortunately, many African Americans are deficient in vitamin D. The NHANES(National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) found that among African American women in their child-bearing years, 42% were vitamin D deficient. (Next was Mexican Americans, and then Caucasions who were low by only 4%.

Well, considering that African Americans have a natural barrier called melanin against the sun, and that SPF can block up to 95% of UV rays, it's understandable why many of us may be vitamin D deficient.

However, despite the benefits of sunlight, many of us shy away from it...

G-d bless!

http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20050218/vitamin-d-may-lower-prostate-cancer-risk

http://www.miamiherald.com/277/v-print/story/503619.html

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=110

http://www.cdc.gov/nutritionreport/pdf/nr_ch2b.pdf

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/newsletter/2006-aug.shtml

Vitamin D: Do African Americans Wear Sunscreen?

I've been reading about vitamin D and expected to read about the benefits of the vitamin. Y'know, the usual. But I realized that it was much bigger deal than I could have imagined, so I figured I would break this topic up into parts.

Part I. Do Black Folks Wear Sunscreen?

The last time I watched Oprah, I remember her mentioning that she wears sunscreen. I use to always wonder if black folks wore sunscreen. It was always a source of embarrassment for me. Hey, you're dark, why are you wearing it? Also, I knew some black people who didn't want to be out in the sun for fear of getting darker. Y'know, try to stay as "light" as you can. The times I would wear sunscreen, I preferred not having my friends know b/c once they did, they snickered at me.

But, hey, I didn't want to get skin cancer! Even black folks gotta be careful!

And yet...I came across an article commenting that are thousands of Africans living in the hottest, sunniest places for years upon years, and yet they are not falling left and right from sun exposure. What gives?

Well, there are three things to know:
1. Sunlight is a natural nutrient that allows us to produce vitamin D in our bodies.
2. Sunscreen is truly effective. The weakest sunblock of SPF 8-15 can block out UV rays by 95%!
3. People with dark pigmentation have a natural barrier, called melanin, against the sun. Depending on the skin tone, according to Dr. Micheal Holick, we basically have a natural SPF of 15-30%

The problem here is that many people, especially those with darker skin tones are deficient in vitamin D. And in my readings, I've learned that vitamin D does more than help our bodies absorb calcium. MUCH MORE!

Much of the info given over comes from Dr. Micheal Holick, a heavy weight in vitamin D studies. He is Professor of Medicine, Phsiology, and Biophysics at the Boston University School of Medicine. And he (among others) is correcting a lot of misconceptions about sunlight, which some people aren't too happy about. And you will soon see why...

G-d bless!