Green House Effect for growing hair

For the Ladies!!!

I woke up one day to Shoulder length hair, without trying hard, so I've decided to task myself by taking better care of my hair, growing it and slowing down on weaves, as I wasn't born with a weave in my hair! I also believe if I spent as much money as I have spent on my various weaves ( I have over 14 of different types from Indian to Brazilian to Mongolian to Peruvian) i'd have opened a hair store.
So, I've been carrying my own hair for days and enjoying the simple things of life.
I have to warn though that growing your hair is a journey and you need to put in time, energy and patience if you want to see some beautiful locks on your head. You need to find the techniques that work for you and the products that enable your hair to grow healthily.

Whilst researching ( I like researching stuff, I don't think I use anything without knowing if it works, the side effects, what to expect whilst using it etc) and I came upon a very interesting hair growthe techniques on one of the hair forums I lurk on.

The Green House Effect is a technique that aids in promoting hair growth by creating a natural, warm, steamy environment that enables the natural oils from your scalp to come out and help your hair grow. It is extremely good for people with dry, brittle hair as it helps stimulate moisture.

So, how do you do this? Well, it's very easy.

• Apply a natural oil to your hair- I currently use grapeseed oil on mine as it's not too oily and moisturizes and seals your hair at the same time. Some other good oils you can use are castor oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil etc.
• Wrap your hair in a showercap or plastic bag and seal so there are no holes or openings for air to escape.
• Tie a scarf over the plastic bag on your head and go to bed.
• In the morning, when you take off the scarf and plastic bag, your hair will be very moistened and a little bit damp. This will air dry itself within 10-20 minutes.
• Your hair will not only be soft and manageable, your scalp will feel very stimulated, thus improving hair growth. Some ladies in the hair forums swear they experienced 1 to 1 1/2 inches of growth in a month (and we are not talking of white hair) which is a great triuph!
• Aim to do this no more than 3 or 4 times a week and try not to use too much of your oil as it can lead to overload of oils as your hair thrives better when your scalp is clean.

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Walking to Lose Weight

Hey all,
Hope you had an excellent week!
So I've been thinking of doing a write up on easy exercises one can do to lose weight and I thought, why not write on Walking!
Walking is one of the easiest ways to lose weight, unfortunately a lot of people disregard the significance of a walking plan. Aside from being easy, it's enjoyable, easy on your joints and one of the safest forms of exercise. It also helps you lose and control your weight, tone muscles and build up your strength and endurance.

So how often should you walk?
If you are a beginner, start with walking 3 days a week for at least 20-30 minutes, gradually increasing the frequency and duration until you are walking for 60 minutes most days of the week.
While it's more fun to walk outside, ir you are like me, and afraid of getting kidnapped, then stick to using a treadmill at home or at the gym. You can make it more fun by listening to music on your ipod or an audio book.

How many Calories can you burn?
This actually depends on your body weight and your walking pace. If you walk at a pace of 4 miles per hour, you can burn the following amount of calories-
120 pound person- 4.7 cals
140 pound person - 5.5 cals
160 pound person - 6.3 cals
180 pound person - 7.1 cals
200 pound person - 7.8 cals
220 pound person - 8.6 cals

Your walk should be painless so if you experience pain or a feeling of heaviness in your chest, jaw, neck, feet, leg or back, please see a doctor and try to describe what happened when it occurred.
Also, if you seem excessively tired for an hour or more after your walk, it means your walk was too strenuous. You should feel exhilarated after a walk, not fatigued.
Equipment
Walking does not require any major equipment and in fact, once you have a pair of sturdy, comfortable walking shoes, you are good to go! Other equipment can be arm or ankle weights, pedometers, heart monitors etc. The key thing is start with being simple!

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Healthy Salad Recipe

Are you like me who hates salads? I sure hated them for years and as far as I was concerned they reminded me of grass and sawdust mixed together! And since I wasn't created a cow, there really seemed to be no reason why I should eat them......right? Wrong!

Eating a salad almost everyday may be one of the most healthy eating habits you can adopt especially when trying to lose weight as they are low in calories and yet, pack a punch in nutrients. So long as you don't add a bunch of fried ingredients swimming in a fatty dressing, you should be alright.

Salads are also high in Fiber which can help lower cholesterol levels and prevent constipation and eating more fiber helps you feel fuller, eat less and ultimately lose weight.
Green salads give you lots of powerful antioxidants such as Vitamin C and E, folic acid and beta-carotene. These help protect the body from damage caused by harmful molecules (free radicals).
A study actually showed that eating lots of fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of developing Cancers of the Head and Neck- even in those who smoke and drink....yeah!

So, here's an easy salad recipe for the on in the picture above. I made this today for Lunch.
Ingredients- Cooked Ham, lettuce, Cabbage (grated), Cottage cheese, half a cucumber, tomatoes.

Chop all the ingredients. Place in a bowl. Mix together adding 1 or 2 tablespoons of oliveoil, blackpepper and salt as dressing!

Enjoy! Very healthy and scrumptious!

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BEWARE OF DIET PILLS

I'm really not a fan of diet pills. Most times we have no clue of it's chemical composition nor any idea of how our bodies will react totem.

Here's a story of a 23 year old lady with dreams whose life was cut short.

As you reach out for that quick fix diet drug, bear this in mind! It's better to lose weight by making life changes to your diet and exercise.

Please click on link:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2315433/Sarah-Houston-cause-death-Boiled-alive-internet-slimming-pills-DNP.html

10 Tips for Maintaining Women's Breast Health

‘Every emotion is associated with a biochemical reality in your body, so you want to bring in the emotions of generosity, pleasure, receiving and open heatedness’ – Dr Christiane Northrup.

With breast cancer being the leading cause of death in women these days, it is very important to adopt a healthy living lifestyle. Here are 10 tips to ensure Breast Health in Women.

1.      Adopt a low glycemic diet and avoid sugar in all its forms especially fructose. If you can, also wean yourself off artificial sweeteners. This is because excess Sugar increases Insulin which along with high blood sugar, changes the way estrogen is metabolized in our body. Elevated estrogen levels is a risk factor for breast cancer so we need to avoid estrogen dominance.

2.      Get enough sleep as proper sleep is essential for optimal health plus it helps metabolize stress hormones better than any known entity.

3.      Meditate /Pray for at least 3-12 minutes each day to calm and soothe your mind.

4.      Begin each day with a Positive Affirmation as they help reprogram your unconscious mind from Negative thinking to Positive thinking.

5.      Breathe Properly! When we breathe in and out through our nose, we activate our Parasympathetic Nervous System which helps restore our digestive and heart systems

6.      Exercise regularly aiming for a Program that includes High Intensity Exercises and Strength training along with Core building exercises and stretching.

7.      Practice Self Love and Unconditional Acceptance. Practice looking in the Mirror at least once a day saying ‘ I love you. I really Love you!’ Do this unfailingly for 21 days and notice the change in how you view yourself!

8.      Activate an active social life- enjoy some face to face time with likeminded people.

9.      Epsom Salt baths (20 minutes, three times a week) are a simple way to get Magnesium into your body.

10.  Keep a Gratitude Diary. Each night before you go to bed, write 5 things for which you are grateful for or 5 things that brought you Pleasure that day!

 

How to curb your hunger

I have a friend who recently complained to me that she had put on weight on a ‘See Food’ diet. She had put on weight by eating, not because she was hungry, but based on the foods that were being thrust in her face each day.

Most times, we are bombarded by images of food by food commercials, adverts, newspapers and magazines and because we have easy access to supermarkets, fast food joints and restaurants, we feel hungry and eat even when we really aren’t.

We also eat based on our response to how we are feeling. For example, when we are sad and depressed, we reach out for some ice cream and chocolates.

So, how do you stop yourself from eating when you are not hungry? The answer is really simple. By listening to your body! Your body actually tells you when you are hungry, full, or have an appetite. Here’s what you can do to aid your weight loss:

·         Never sit for a meal when you are hungry

This is very important. If you are ravenously hungry, you can curb your appetite before your meal by drinking water or sipping on herbal tea. If you are hungry and your meal time is not anytime soon, have a small snack such as an apple and a handful of nuts.

·         Keep a Journal

Keeping a log is very simple. All you need to do is write what you ate, how you felt before and after the meal, where you ate it at and the time of the day you had the meal. After a week of recording, go through it and see if there is any pattern that needs correcting.

·         Always ask your self certain questions before you eat

Why am I eating? Am I truly hungry? Am I really eating because the clock says its time for a meal. Am I craving sweets because I am upset? These questions will help you make an informed choice on what to eat.

·         Be discerning about Sweets

Studies actually show that if you eat chocolates when you are hungry, you have less control, so you will eat faster and eat more. It is better to eat your sweets at the end of your meal  as dessert as it reduces the strength of cravings.

·         Eat Slowly

It normally takes your brain about 20 minutes to figure out that you are full, so eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly, savor the taste of your meal and drink water whilst eating.

·         Practice Interval eating

If you are trying to lose weight, this one is for you. Eat mini meals every 3 or 31/2 hours throughout the day. This helps rave your metabolic rate and helps you lose weight faster.

 

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My Lover?...........Alcohol!

I love alcohol! And my choice of ‘poison’ is red or white wine. I have never been worried about my love for my alcohol as I figured I do not drink everyday, I also drink ‘healthy alcohol’ after all, red wine contains lots of antioxidants and flavinoids, which are magic words to a health conscious woman like me. Plus, I do not like to drink alone and would never even consider drinking a glass of wine on my own at all. How wrong I was with my assumptions.

The truth is, alcohol is good for you. YES, if you stick to the recommended Units, which is :

Women: 2/3 units a day

Men: ¾ Units a day; with at least 2 or 3 off alcohol days in a week.

1 Unit is however: Half a standard glass of wine      

                                Half a Pint of beer

                                A measure of spirit

Alcohol has some health benefits such as reducing the build up of fat on the inner walls of your arteries and it may reduce the risks of developing a heart disease, reduce the risk of you having a stroke and may reduce the risk of gallstones and diabetes.  It is also said to reduce the risk of developing stomach ulcers as alcohol destroys H pylori which causes ulcers and alcohol raises good cholesterol levels which in turn prevents plaques from causing blood clots.

So, with all these good deeds, why does alcohol have a bad name?

I recently gave up Alcohol for Lent and boy, did I not just suffer? Apparently, I never realized that I was addicted to alcohol on a social level. Just because I was not drinking everyday, did not mean I wasn’t abusing the bottle, engaging in drinking bottles of ‘booze’ with my girlfriends. I was in love (and still am) with the immediate altering mood that alcohol gives me, making me a happier, relaxed and sometimes euphoric feeling. Alcohol was my Friday bestie, turning me into a fun lady who could dance all night till morning never tiring, hopping from one club to another.

Within 20 minutes of guzzling my red wine of choice, it would get absorbed into my bloodstream and not only would I feel beautiful, I would be the sexiest girl in the room, with a lovely, charming personality to go with it, when in reality I hate talking and can be quite antisocial.

So, how am I coping without my’ choice of poison’?. Well, it’s only been with the Grace of God as my Lent pact on abstaining was made in Church before God and I am quite fearful of my God. Hence, I am counting down to the 30^th of March, when Lent ends and I can finally have a drink.

Alcohol in excess can have some real serious consequences though, and some of us forget this! These are a few:

·         Excessive drinking can cause cancer of the esophagus, liver, breast, Pancreas, Pharynx, Larynx (Scary right!)

·         Sudden death in people with cardiovascular diseases

·         Heart muscle damage which can lead to heart failure

·         Brain shrinkage

·         Cirrhosis of the Liver

·         Miscarriage in women

·         Fetal alcohol syndrome in newborn ( applies to women who drink whilst pregnant)

·         Accidents

·         Suicide

Alcohol is a gift from God and should be used in moderate amounts for enjoyment, pleasure and health, the Sin being ‘getting drunk’. So, when I do start drinking again, I shall be drinking more responsibly!

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Healthy Meal of the Day- Oven fried Sweet Potatoes with Catfish sauce

I got home starving and needed a quick meal to deal with my hunger. I found this meal very satisfying and filling as well as tasty. It was quite easy to make too.  Check out the ingredients:

1 medium size Sweet potato cut into chip like size
1 tablespoon Olive oil
Garlic salt

Fish Sauce
Catfish
onion powder
Cameroun pepper
salt
ginger powder
Maggi cube

Peel potatoes and wash after chopping. Place in plastic bowl. Sprinkle olive oil and garlic salt and then toss so that it spreads and covers all the chips and then place in the oven. Grill for about 20-30 minutes until chips are soft inside.

For the sauce, place catfish and mix all the powders together. Add a maggi cube with small water in the pan and steam the fish on medium heat. Let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes till fish is properly cooked and sauce thickened.
Serve hot.

My Favorite Health Tonic - Wheat grass Powder

I drink Wheat grass powder….that strange, murky looking green drink that some of you may look at with disgust on your face…..LOL! Well, I love myself and will take care of this thirty something year’s old body in order that it may take care of me in my old age.

Wheat grass is the grass of young wheat plants and it is a powerful health food supplement that’s packed with a high concentration of vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll and enzymes. In fact, it’s said to be one of the foods that are regarded as ‘Complete Foods’ containing 98 out of 102 earth elements.

Why do I take Wheat grass?  I suffer from serious acne and tend to break out during my period. I find that wheat grass helps clear my skin by increasing my healing process.

Aside from my skin’s vanity, there are more important reasons why you should take wheat grass each day such as :

·         It’s a powerful antioxidant and helps aid cancer prevention

·         It helps increase weight loss by aiding appetite reduction…..yep!

·         It is a superior detoxification agent and neutralizes toxins in the body

·         It purifies your Liver

·         Improves blood sugar problems

·         Its an instant energy booster, no kidding!

·         Reduces Inflammation in the body

·         Improves eyesight and night vision.

There are so many more benefits of Wheat grass and if you’d like to discover them, the internet is a good place to start!

EATING ON THE PALEO PLAN

 

Once you know the different kinds of foods allowed on the diet, it’s quite easy to prepare and stick to the diet.

On the Plan, you abstain from eating processed and refined foods that are huge parts of our modern day diet. Instead of eating grains, dairy and vegetable oils, your diet is focused on Protein from meat, fish, chicken, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, healthy nuts and seeds, coconut oil and olive oil.

Breakfast should no longer consist of your regular traditional cereals, oatmeal or toast, rather eggs, bacon, lean meats, avocado, spinach, broccoli etc. If you do crave some cereal, make a natural one from chopped bananas, grated coconut flesh, apples, sprinkle some nuts on it and drink with almond milk or coconut milk. You can use honey to sweeten.

Lunch is usually a salad made from vegetables and you can prepare your salads ahead of time. Don’t forget to add your proteins. You can add some ham, bacon, nuts for extra flavor and use vinegar and olive oil with black pepper and sea salt for more flavor. Lemon juice is also good.

For dinner, a steak with a little sweet potatoe or boiled plantain or a salad is good enough and if you are craving some dessert have some sweet fruit such as pineapple or ripe pawpaw!

Snacks are also allowed to keep your energy levels between meals.

The key foundation of your meals though are Protein, vegetables, fruits and nuts with some olive oil or coconut oil.