Author Archives: rawgirl

This week’s #AfricanSuperfood is an ancient grain that has been cultivated in West Africa for thousands of years: Fonio.

Fonio is a grain that is naturally vegan and gluten-free. It is packed with vitamins (B1 and B12 in particular), a good amount of protein (12 grams per cup), and is rich in the essential amino acids methionine and cystine, and mineral salts such as iron, calcium, manganese, zinc, phosphorus and magnesium. It has a nutty aroma and a pebble-like texture, similar to quinoa. 

“With fonio, the cook needs never be ashamed,” as the popular West African saying goes. Traditionally, fonio is used to make porridge (acha) and is served for breakfast in Nigeria and the rest of West Africa. Taking only a few minutes to prepare, acha is made by combining fonio, water, milk (if you want to recreate this, ideally you would use a non-dairy milk), and a dash of salt. Be sure to rinse and drain the fonio grains first! You can also use fonio in a salad, as a replacement for bulgur in tabbouleh, or in place of rice in a rice bowl. 

Overall, this #superfood has exceptional nutritional qualities, has a low glycemic index, is high in fiber, and is very digestible. Chile, be sure to purchase this as a #PantryStaple! -XO

Hey girl hey! Did you hear that @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom signed the Toxic Free Cosmetics Act into law? This is HUGE as this is the nation’s first state-level ban of the addition of 24 toxic ingredients into beauty and personal care products. I hope other states follow along. These toxic ingredients include formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and mercury, which can damage the kidneys and the nervous system. 

Mercury was the primary source of my own personal health problems years ago, and I even have quite the toxic beauty product horror story… Back in 2016, I fell asleep with a “deep pore-cleanser” on my face and woke up to an inflamed, swollen and BURNED cheek. Chile, I was pissed. How could it be that a product that is supposed to cleanse my skin could burn my face?! I called a dear friend who is an eco-esthetician and she schooled me like I school people on the dangers of fast food. 

She told me that there is often no real guarantee that “natural” products have truly natural ingredients. I couldn’t help but think: I’m supposed to know this! Even though I’d made a huge effort to buy only vegan makeup brands, and change my beauty products, as I stood there with the burn on my face I was aware that I needed to do much better. That I would do better by finding beauty products that meet the strictest #CleanBeauty standards of @environmentalworkinggroup. This experience is what led me to experiment with making my own pressed powder that I wear everyday made from cacao and turmeric and also start using natural oils as moisturizer. Are you aware of what’s in your beauty products? Comment below! -XO

Today’s #AfricanSuperfood is the fruit of the Karite Tree, Butyrospermum Parkii (popularly known as #SheaButter).

Karite Trees grow in most parts of West and Central Africa and have been a staple in these homes for many years with a diverse range of purposes. It is used for cooking (100% natural, unrefined shea butter is edible), for moisturizing the fragile and sensitive skin of newborns, to soothe aching skin and muscles, to heal burns, scars and sores, and for healthy glowing skin and silky hair.

I personally LOVE Shea butter. It’s like ten products in one. I use it as a moisturizer especially in winter months and also on my hair. A lot of people with locs use beeswax or other products that can leave residue in the hair, but I am extremely particular about avoiding chemicals or anything that may damage my hair (which might be why it grows like wildfire). 

Shea butter also protects the skin from environmental and free radical damage, and contains cinnamic acid, which protects the skin from UV rays. Also works as a conditioner and makeup remover. If I was stranded on a deserted island, I could easily live with shea butter as one of my only go-to beauty products. -XO

Happy Friyay 🙂 

Who else is ready for the weekend? I’m ready to get out in nature again, breathe, and hug a tree lol.

Me and the #AgelessTribe are moving into Week 2 of my eight week program Staying Ageless 30+. Thus far, we’ve gotten clearer on our body types and how to begin tailoring diet, exercise, and creating balance for our bodies specifically. This week we move into understanding how to give the body the nutrients it needs to THRIVE and what signs and symptoms to look out for to know that something is off with our health. 

I’m excited about going in this weekend and also starting to tackle my own goals along with the women in the class. Do you have any health goals you are interested in achieving before the New Year? Comment Below. -XO

#HappyFriday 🙂 Here’s more reasons to put your bare feet on the ground every now and then.

Earthing (also known as grounding) refers to contact with the Earth’s surface electrons by walking barefoot outside or sitting, working, or sleeping indoors connected to conductive systems, some of them patented, that transfer the energy from the ground into the body. I now have a grounding mat I sleep on and also use one while I’m working at my computer. Emerging scientific research supports the concept that the Earth’s electrons may induce multiple physiological changes of clinical significance, including reduced pain, better sleep, a shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic tone in the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and a blood-thinning effect.

In a 2012 review article published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health here was one of the findings summarized: In a blinded pilot study, Clint Ober recruited 60 subjects (22 males and 28 females) who suffered from self-described sleep disturbances and chronic muscle and joint pain for at least six months. Subjects were randomly divided for the month-long study in which both groups slept on conductive carbon fiber mattress pads. Half the pads were connected to a dedicated Earth ground outside each subject’s bedroom window, while the other half were “sham” grounded—not connected to the Earth. Most grounded subjects described symptomatic improvement while most in the control group did not. 

Of those sleeping on the grounded mats: 85% decreased time it took to get to sleep, 93% increased their quality of sleep, 100% woke up feeling rested, 82% reported a decrease in muscle stiffness and pain, 74% reported decrease in chronic back or joint pain, and 78% reported improvement in their overall well-being. Some subjects reported significant relief from asthmatic and respiratory conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, PMS, sleep apnea, and hypertension while sleeping grounded. These results indicated that the effects of earthing can extend beyond reduction of pain and improvements in sleep. This is part of why I have started to explore it, and have been telling my clients to do the same. -XO