D.Smith

Our diet isn’t just about what we put into our mouth. We also eat with our eyes, referring to the idea that in the things we surround ourselves with heavily influence you. Anything that touches our skin goes into our blood stream within 30 seconds. We also “eat” with our noses, what we inhale can also have effects on us depending on the chemical that are added to things such as perfume to keep them smelling sweet. Research shows that our (ethnic women) beauty products are the dirtiest on the market. Stemming from just using what we had available to us, Caribbeans have looked to the earth for everything they need for many years, including beauty products. According to the Environmental Work Group (EWG), many of the mainstream products that target Black women contain toxic and harmful ingredients. Health hazards linked to ingredients in those products include cancer, hormone disruption, and developmental and reproductive damage. For example, one study in the EWG report found that Black Americans had higher urinary concentrations of parabens, the hormone-disrupting chemicals commonly used as preservatives in personal care products, pharmaceuticals and foods. With that being said, we have gathered a list of natural beauty product you can start using so your beauty regime can become less toxic for your body. [vc_tta_pageable no_fill_content_area=”1″ autoplay=”10″ active_section=”1″ pagination_style=”flat-rounded” pagination_color=”orange” tab_position=”top”] Activated Charcoal A form of carbon that absorbs other substances on the surface it’s applied to, making it great for face masks and scrubs. Aloe Vera Gel Great in skin and hair care as it’s easily absorbent and leaves the skin and hair feeling soft. Beeswax (Organic) Super versatile, used in face and beard balms, hair waxes, candles, soap and more. Bentonite Clay Technically Bentonite Clay is aged volcanic ash, and when mixed with water (for a stronger clean, use Apple Cider Vinegar) it becomes ‘charged’ which allows it to absorb toxins. Whilst food grade Bentonite Clay can be bought for detoxifying toxins, chemicals, heavy metals and other impurities from the body, we use it for the same purposes but on the skin in a face mask. Cocoa Butter…

Starting with diabetes, November is a very heavy month for awareness of detrimental diseases. We now, with the millions of other Americans effected, will put our focus on epilepsy. One in 26 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy at some point during their lifetime. It is one of the least understood of all the neurological diseases, yet it is the fourth most common. Epilepsy may occur as a result of a genetic disorder or an acquired brain injury, such as a trauma or stroke. During a seizure, a person experiences abnormal behavior, symptoms, and sensations, sometimes including loss of consciousness. During this month, many organizations join together to provide information about research, prevention, treatment and resources to fight epilepsy. Epilepsy, unfortunately, has a long history of misunderstanding and stigmatism. Evidence of individuals suffering epilepsy in ancient history attributed it to spiritual or demonic possession. In fact, Hippocrates, the great Roman medical practitioner, shunned the notion that it was a supernatural phenomenon and believed that it derived from the brain, had hereditary aspects, and that how it presented itself in childhood also determined how it affected the rest of the individual’s life. Unfortunately, Hippocrates wasn’t believed until well into the 17th century, when the notion that it wasn’t demonic or spiritual possession finally subsided. But, the stigma associated with it continues to this day. One of the goals of National Epilepsy Awareness Month is to separate the disease from its historical and false reputations. Many countries still believe that it’s a sign of spiritual possession and, until 1980, individuals suffering from epilepsy weren’t allowed to marry in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC), Sometimes we can prevent epilepsy. Prevent traumatic brain injuries Brain injuries are a frequent cause of epilepsy. Make sure you are riding safely in cars, using seatbelts, and on bikes, using helmets. If injury does happen, because avoiding such things are sometimes impossible, taking good care of the injury may help reduce the possibility of flaring up the disease. Lower the chances of stroke and heart disease These include eating well,…

November is National Diabetes Month, a time when communities across the country team up to bring attention to diabetes. This year’s focus is on the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In our Caribbean communities, it seems as though diabetes is rampant throughout our people. In every village, there is either someone in our immediate families or friends we know of who have the disease. That is why we believe joining the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH) in spreading awareness will do our community some good. We would like to note that there are two different types of the disease. Type 1, you are born with. Type 2, you are the cause of (based on how you treat yourself).  About 1:5 people who have diabetes are unaware that they even have the disease at all. It very important to catch diabetes early. Overtime, high blood glucose damages the blood vessels, which can damage the organs that these vessels supply. As one would assume, this can lead to a variety of health complications. That is why you don’t normally hear of people dying directly from diabetes, you hear they died from a failure of “x, y, z”. But, as you now see, that started because of their diabetes. Not to sound like every Doctor you’ve ever visited but, being overweight and living a lifestyle with a lack of exercise is no good for you. Those two specific risk facts are the leading causes of type 2 diabetes. Like many things, family history of the disease makes you more susceptible to contracting it where other may not be. It is helpful, if the resources are present for you, to figure out what health issues many people in your specific blood line have consistently had, just so you are aware. Even if the resources aren’t available (you are not a part of a close family to be able to get the information, nobody really paid attention, etc.), you can take blood tests to get a panel screening of your entire DNA make up. Just as murphy’s law states,…

October means very different things to people depending on who you ask. Some are excited for the leaves and temperatures of the air changing, some love the spooky vibes that Halloween brings, but it is also a time of awareness for breast cancer. All month long, survivors and supporters wear pink to celebrate those who have been affected, remember those who did not win the battle and shed light on the disease as a whole. The information being shared is not to scare you, but to bring our little piece of awareness into your home so you or someone you love will not be so strongly shaken by breast cancer. Although we wear pink during October, the following information should be kept with you all year long! Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. Though alarming to hear the words “you have breast cancer”, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, when detected at an early stage, the 5-year survival rate is 99%. Early detection includes doing monthly breast self-exams and scheduling regular clinical breast exams and mammograms. Some early detection good habits include: [vc_message message_box_color=”grey”]Paying attention to the symptoms and signs: A change in how the breast or nipple feels A change in the breast or nipple appearance Any nipple discharge (clear or bloody) [/vc_message][vc_message message_box_color=”grey”]Be sensitive to the sign of any breast pain: As women, we become desensitized to discomfort because we brush off any weird aches and pains as our menstrual cycle just preparing our body for its arrival, but not this time. It is very important to be extra sensitive about pain in areas like the breast because it can be a sign of breast cancer and, if caught early, can save your life.[/vc_message][vc_message message_box_color=”grey”]Perform self-examinations: Using the pads of your fingers, move around your entire breast in a circular pattern moving from the outside to the center, checking the entire breast and armpit area. Check both breasts each month feeling for any lump, thickening, or hardened knot. Notice any changes and get lumps evaluated by your…

Whether we know it’s just time for a wash or a style we spent hours on didn’t come out right, in the land of hair, not every day is a beautiful day in paradise. We struggle to fit our hair under turbans and hats or slick an afro puff up which, in some cases, end up doing more harm than good because of the conditions we are putting our hair through as the only thought on our minds is getting out the door looking decent. We have found these two holy grail “hair hacks” perfect for bad hair days that will love your hair just as much as you’ll love your look and the convenience. Beautifully Warm Beautifully Warm is a family-run business, committed to promoting affordable and fashionable outerwear clothing and accessories. Mission Statement: We believe that in today’s world all women can preserve the integrity of their hair and look good doing so, no matter the age. Our product can support your needs from day into night with either outerwear winter hats, summer hats and hair scarfs or bonnets for bedtime. We also have new lines of products and styles being designed to fit your desired style. Their Story: One morning as we were getting ready for church, I watched my wife carefully detangle and style my daughter’s naturally curly hair; nothing different from any other early Sunday morning. As usual, my wife bribed 2-year-old Amelia with snacks and her favorite cartoon “Peppa Pig” to keep her still. Twenty minutes later my wife was finished styling Amelia’s hair; It was magnificent, in my opinion, and embodied the Nubian princess that she is.  As we walked out the door, the cold winters morning air welcomed us. I grabbed Amelia’s winter hat and put it on her head and of course the hairstyle was ruined…. again. Choosing between being warm or having neat hair wasn’t much of a consideration. The obvious choice was to keep my daughter protected from the harsh, cold air. That’s when it hit me, why should she have to choose between being warm or having nicely,…

“Therapy isn’t for everyone. Find your path to peace. Maybe it is in creativity.” Watch a child, and more than likely no matter what they are doing, when a set of crayons or tubes of paint are lying around, they will make magic happen. Maybe not anything worth hanging on the fridge but still “magic” in their own right. We have a lot to learn from children. We say that because the arts are a form of healing and the most magical thing about it is the many forms it can be expressed in. If drawing and painting isn’t your cup of tea, then find another flavor. Dance, poetry, design and anything else that you deem as creativity are all forms of expression that can be used to heal. In doing so, most times without even noticing it in the moment, we heal the mind, body and soul just by tapping into the things we love. Pick up a pen and write, a brush and paint, thread your needle and sew, whatever it takes to express yourself. The benefits of allowing oneself time to be creative can be surprising for some. We become better problem solvers, connect with our communities and ourselves, practice freedom and relieve ourselves of stress. All the things that make us shine as we move through this life. People, just like these very talented Caribbean artists we will highlight, have turned to the arts to heal whether from trauma, to gain clarity or whatever their driving force may have been. Nonetheless, they are now better and more whole, and we want you to feel the same. NIKI LOPEZ Panamanian, Jamaican and Cuban decent Lopez used art to survive the 14 challenging years she spent in a cult.  Her signature mask Healing from Within is the first work in which she dealt with mending these wounds. She says, “This is about the work I’ve done from the inside. This is when I really started to shift my life.”. NZINGAH ONIWOSAN Haitian decent As a child, Oniwosan was physically and emotionally abused by her mother, who suffers from…

[vc_tta_pageable] Section 1 We all can agree that keeping the state of our overall health in check is vital to our survival. Many of us also agree–if we aren’t already–that we don’t want to be filling endless amounts of prescriptions at the pharmacy each month. Speaking of, have you ever noticed all the side effects that come with these pills? Trying to cure one thing seems like the leading cause to the next these days, doesn’t it? If you were told you could knock out many, if not practically all, of your medical concerns by turning to natural remedies from home, would you be interested in learning what those said remedies are? Well, today is your lucky day. Join us as we dive deep into remedies outside of the pharmacy that will have you feeling better so much quicker. [vc_message message_box_style=”3d” style=”square” message_box_color=”grey” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-handshake-o”]Meditation The most well-known effect of meditation is stress relief but there is way more benefits of the action than you may realize: Promotes emotional health Enhances self-awareness Fights addictions Reduces age related memory loss Lengthens attention span Lowers blood pressure and risk of contracting common diseases [/vc_message][vc_message message_box_style=”3d” style=”square” message_box_color=”grey” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-handshake-o”]Tea Tree Oil Better known as the skin whisperer being so popular treating acne because of: Anti-inflammatory benefits (*it is thought to calm redness, swelling and inflammation) Anti-viral Antifungal (*can help cure athlete’s foot, contact dermatitis or head lice) [/vc_message][vc_message message_box_style=”3d” style=”square” message_box_color=”grey” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-handshake-o”]Turmeric & Ginger One pot of curry a day truly could keep the doctors away. This combination: Acts as an inflammation killer, which will also lead to the reduction of pain in the body Decrease nausea Support immune function [/vc_message][vc_message message_box_style=”3d” style=”square” message_box_color=”grey” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-handshake-o”]Black Cumin Seed Oil This oil can be digested orally with a dropper (in pill form or rubbed directly on to the skin): Allergies/Asthma (*if diffused properly) Skin benefits – rashes/psoriasis Digestion Inhibit growth of cancer cells Combat fungus [/vc_message] [vc_message message_box_style=”3d” style=”square” message_box_color=”grey” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-handshake-o”]Dark Leafy Greens Dark leafy greens like kale, spinach, cabbage, beetroot, watercress, romaine lettuce, and arugula. Supports optimal gut health Makes…