Author Archives: rawgirl

My #WCW is reserved for two dynamic trailblazing black women: Senator Kamala Harris @kamalaharris & Congresswoman Yvette Clarke @repyvetteclarke. Was overjoyed to hear that they have introduced legislation that would fund uterine #fibroids research and education so women can become more informed about this issue!!

My prayer is that the legislation passes. And if it does, that there is education and research that goes beyond simply offering surgical procedures and instead actually educates women on the root cause of fibroids: estrogen dominance. This, in tandem with nutrition and lifestyle interventions that can restore hormonal balance, is sorely needed. I also hope we can catch up with the strides that Europe has already made in offering non-invasive options for healing fibroids, which we discussed in my podcast episode. If you haven’t yet caught the How to Heal Fibroids Naturally episode of my podcast featuring Dr. Alan Warshowsky, please take a moment to listen here! -XO

Happy New Month Y’all!  As we deal with the height of the summer season, amid the pandemic, with racial injustice still at the forefront, self-care is mandatory. Last year @blackloveexperience I gave a talk: Self-Care 101, Creating Rituals That Nourish Mind Body & Soul from my perspective. I truly believe that the pampering, relaxing, and stress relieving things we usually associate with self-care have to come after or at least coincide with taking care of our body’s basic needs for optimum performance.

I sum this up by asking you to Take Your M.E.D.S.S. (mindfulness, exercise, diet, supplements, and sleep). Sleep is purposefully put at the bottom of this list because I consider it the foundation for healthy living. If you missed my talk last year or weren’t local to DC, I’ve uploaded it to YouTube. Watch it HERE! In the video description is also a link to download my FREE Wellness Wheel exercise to help you assess how much balance you currently have in your life. 

In other great news (**drum-roll please**) many of you may or may not know that your girl is a trained fashion designer. Yep. Besides working as a freelance designer many many moons ago, I often design my own clothes. Fashion was always my first creative love and that’s why I’m super excited to be sharing ongoing wellness content starting this month with the amazing fashion community @ujuumedia. Look out for my posts on their blog, go check out the amazing designers they feature, & cop some affordable fashion @soukandsepia including their curated #BlackisKing collection. More coming soon! -XO

Today’s #AfricanSuperfood is Hibiscus commonly consumed as Bissap 🙂 

Bissap is a drink made from the species of the hibiscus flower known as the Roselle and has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. The sepals of the hibiscus flower when infused in hot water creates a pink, red, magenta liquid. When I lived in Jamaica for a short stint as a kid, and then much later while staying in Accra, Ghana I enjoyed the same drink and realized it just had many names! Bissap is called Sorrel in the Caribbean region, and Belchanda in Nepal and Grosella in Paraguay. Nigerians call it Zobo, Ghanaians call it Sobolo, and Senegalese, Congolese, Malians and Burkinabes call it Bissap, which is the national drink of Senegal.  

Some of the reported benefits of drinking bissap include: it acts as a natural diuretic, has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, aids in increasing appetite, is a tonic for the kidneys and liver, aids digestion, improves urinary tract health, promotes cardiovascular health, strengthens the immune system, increases energy levels, reduces high blood pressure, can serve as a mild laxative, improves skin conditions, aids with weight loss, and provides relief from cramps and menstrual pains. 

In Chinese folk medicine, hibiscus is used to treat liver disorders and high blood pressure. In East Africa, the infused hibiscus drink called “Sudan tea,” is taken to relieve coughs. Although many benefits have not been subjected to clinical study, extracts of Hibiscus (Bissap) have been the subject of hundreds of scientific studies that shed light on its potency.

Scientific studies indicate that Bissap can lower blood pressure and inhibit the angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE) that play a part in raising blood pressure. Because consuming bissap can significantly lower blood pressure and dilate the blood vessels, and can be useful as an adjunct to diet and lifestyle to beat hypertension – it should not be consumed while taking antihypertensive medication. In addition, pregnant women especially in the first trimester, should not consume it as it can cause a miscarriage because of its tendencies to induce menstruation. 

You can drink bissap cold or hot cold. Often ginger, cayenne, lemon, and lime are added to it. It also can be flavored with mint, pineapple, strawberry, banana, orange, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, and even nutmeg. When nutritionists analyzed Bissap they found them to be high in calcium, niacin, riboflavin and iron. It also provides vitamin C, and is rich in (flavanoids) antioxidants.  -XO

References:

Nutritional Properties of Bissap: Health Claims & Evidence by the  Pesticide Action Network UK. 

Herrera-Arellano A, Flores-Romero S, Chávez-Soto MA, Tortoriello J. Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Argentina 1 Xochitepec, 62790 Morelos, Mexico. Abstract: Phytomedicine: international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology 2004 Jul;11(5):375-82.

Cannot let the month close out without discussing #Fibroids for #FibroidsAwarenessMonth. 

From a research article published in 2014 in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology: “Fibroids should be considered a public health issue, given the magnitude of the problem and the costs of health care for this disease. African American women have a 3-fold increased age-adjusted incidence rate and 3-fold increased relative risk of fibroids. Surgical treatment for fibroids is especially prevalent among African American women; they are 2 to 3 times more likely to undergo hysterectomy for fibroid tumors than other racial groups.”

The biggest issue with invasive surgeries is that they do not address the root cause. So many women have the fibroids removed, only to have them grow back with a vengeance. That is because surgery does not address the root of the problem.

The root cause of fibroids is estrogen dominance. There are many ways this can develop. In my black female clients it can often be traced to excessive consumption of dairy, followed by birth control – which actually creates an even more fertile ground for abnormal growths such as cysts and fibroids to grow. There are other reasons too, but this is the most common narrative I encounter.

As women we are not taught that our period relays important information about the status of our health. We believe and are told from a young age that horrific periods with heavy bleeding, cramping, migraines, vomiting or more are “normal” and we should deal with it or stop the symptoms using birth control. This has to stop. Because when we ignore the signs our period is trying to tell us, we set the stage for imbalance to continue until it manifests into a full blown diagnosis. I address the root cause in my practice and approach fibroids by dealing with diet, stress, toxin exposure, lifestyle, supplementation, and herbs. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with fibroids, please listen to my podcast episode with Dr. Alan Warshowsky, who has been healing women with fibroids for over a decade. It is really important that this health issue is demystified and that women are aware of all of their options.  -XO

Today’s CRAVING & #AfricanSuperfood #throwback needs little to no introduction for many: TEFF.

If you love #injera as much as I do, and you only want that good “gluten-free” kind, then you are getting the amazing nutrition that teff provides. I’ve posted a video about Teff on IGTV & in a post in the past, but it’s too powerful of a superfood to leave out of this series.

Injera is a sour dough-risen flatbread with a slightly spongy texture that is light brown in color and a staple in Ethiopian or Eritrean cuisine. Injera can be prepared using a variety of flours but most commonly used is teff, which is a tiny super grain that has serious super powers. Genetic evidence has shown that teff was one of the earliest plants domesticated and may have originated in Ethiopia and Eritrea between 4000 BC and 1000 BC.

Injera is a rich source of various essential nutrients including fiber, protein, and vitamins. It contains a high amount of protein including all 8 essential amino acids, high amounts of vitamins A, C, K, many of the B vitamins, and a wide range of minerals including high amounts of iron and calcium, along with potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc. Injera made from pure teff is gluten-free, making it suitable for consumption for those with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance. In 1996, the United States National Research Council characterized teff as having the “potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable land care”. 

One serving of Injera has nutrients that boost circulation, maintain electrolyte imbalance, aid with blood coagulation, and maintain healthy eyesight. Teff contains 20-40% resistant starch which feeds the good bacteria in your gut, and is low on the glycemic index so it won’t leave you with an energy hangover, which helps to maintain balanced blood sugar levels. The antioxidant content in Injera acts to protect the cells from free radical damage, and decrease the risk of heart disease and cancer.  

Alongside powerhouse grains such as quinoa and spelt, teff stacks up as a legit superfood that is low in fat, sodium, high in fiber, and contains a robust nutrient profile!  -XO

Raise your hand if you struggle with sugar addiction? 

Chile, I’m a recovered sugar addict; it has been twelve years off that processed stuff so I feel you if you raised your hand.

I’m baaaaack, like I never left! 🙂 And while I was gone, I gave a live presentation with some doc friends on why Bitter is B.E.T.T.E.R. and how consuming bitter foods can help you: beat sugar addiction, enhance brain functioning, trim belly fat, tend to heart health, enhance digestion, and reduce blood sugar levels and appetite. 

Every culture in the world incorporates bitter foods as staples – but the standard American diet avoids them and even actively removes bitter flavor from foods. This causes an imbalance and leads to health problems. 

For those who raised your hands, this presentation is giving you a REAL and tangible way to outsmart your sweet tooth and stop the sugar cravings – besides just trying not to eat it. I put my clients on bitter foods all the time, and it works like a charm to change their palettes. The presentation is now up on my YouTube page. Watch it HERE. 

If you watch to the end, a link is also provided to download my FREE Bitter Foods handout so you can get started freeing yourself from sugar addiction ASAP. Drop me a line or DM me on Instagram if you notice your palette has changed after you try it. More on this coming soon 🙂  -XO

via Minga Foods

The Moringa tree also known as Moringa Oleifera, is known by hundreds of other names in different languages. “La libertad” and “mother’s best friend” are just two of the nicknames recognized in the Dominican Republic. Moringa Oleifera contains more than 92 nutrients and 46 types of antioxidants and has the ability to grow under adverse subtropical conditions, such as that in Sub Saharan Africa and South East Asia where it is easily cultivated and grows abundantly. This superfood is said to cure or at the very least accelerate healing of about three hundred diseases and contains almost all the vitamins found in fruits and vegetables in larger proportions. All of its nutritional benefits easily make it the most nutritional herb on the planet and consuming it has caused no documented side-effects. 

Because it is a nutritional powerhouse, moringa is a plant which has the potential to virtually wipe out worldwide malnutrition. This is due to its The Moringa trees powerful qualities come in large part from but are not limited to its’ leaves. Moringa leaves are a solid rich green but not dark in appearance, that contain all eight essential amino acids and 18 of the 20 amino acids absolutely essential for good health! Not only that, it has seven times the vitamin C content of oranges, four times the vitamin A of carrots, four times the calcium of milk,  and three times the potassium of bananas. It also contains high amounts of iron, and phytochemicals. These humble but giving leaves are a complete protein in perfect proportions, which in plant form makes it super bio-available to your body and easy to assimilate. Some see Moringa as an ideal for a multivitamin supplement, but it is a bonafide superfood.

If you don’t know, antioxidants are key in slowing the aging process because they neutralize free radicals. The combination of superior nutritional value including providing 46 antioxidants makes moringa probably one of the strongest natural sources of antioxidants. In the O.R.A.C. rest (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) test, moringa was tested against and beat out superfoods like acai, dark chocolate, garlic, blueberries, goji berries, pomegranate, red wine, and baobab for the most antioxidant capacity. In addition to the powerful antioxidants, moringa leaves contain healthy amounts of cytokinins, which are naturally occurring plant hormones that induce cell division, growth, and delay aging of cells. A review of clinical studies have shown that this compound also called Moringa YSP produces anti-aging properties in humans and caused new skin cells grew faster than the older cells died. This resulted in an almost miraculous reduction of wrinkles on the face and other parts of the body. 

Small scale village case studies in several countries in Africa have shown that Moringa tree can be utilized in treating malnutrition in a local and cost-effective manner. “In 1997-98, Alternative Action for African Development and Church World Service tested the ability of  Moringa leaf powder to prevent or cure malnutrition in pregnant or breast-feeding women and their children in southwestern Senegal. Malnutrition was a major problem in this area, with more than 600 malnourished infants treated every year. During the test, doctors, nurses, and midwives were trained in preparing and using Moringa leaf powder for treating malnutrition. Village women were also trained in the preparation and use of Moringa leaf powder in foods. Result had indicated that children maintained or increased their weight and improved overall health, pregnant women recovered from anemia and had babies with higher birth weights and breast-feeding women increased their production of milk,” [2]. 

This is primarily because all parts of the moringa plant have nutritional value root, flowers, leaves, pods, and seeds: 

Fresh leaves from Moringa oleifera are a good source of vitamin A which has important functions in vision, reproduction, embryonic growth and development, strengthening immunity and cell differentiation. Moringa leaves are a good source of carotenoids and also contain 200 mg/100 g of vitamin C, a concentration greater than what is found in oranges. MO leaves also protect the body from various deleterious effects of free radicals, pollutants and toxins and act as antioxidants. The leaves are a good source of vitamin E, which acts as an antioxidant,  with concentrations similar to those found in nuts. The dried leaves of moringa are a great source of polyphenol compounds, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. The main flavonoids found in Moringa leaves are: myrecytin, quercetin and kaempferol. Compounds found in the leaves contribute to moringa’s anticancer, antidiabetes, hypotensive, and cholesterol reducing effects.

Moringa roots are known for their antibiotic properties and have been used to treat a variety of conditions such as asthma, digestive disorders, gastritis, inflammation and skin disorders.

The Seeds contain a significant amount of oil (up to 40%) with a high-quality fatty acid composition which can be extracted and used for hair, skin, and food preparation. Folk medicine uses raw or crushed M. oleifera seeds as a decoction for treating stomach pain, ulcers, poor vision, joint pain and for aiding digestion. The edible oil known as Ben Oil extracted or pressed from the seeds is clear, sweet and odorless, and never becomes rancid. Overall, its nutritional value most closely resembles olive oil but it has a higher smoke point. 

The immature pods are extremely nutritious, containing all the essential amino acids along with many vitamins and other nutrients. The immature pod can be eaten raw or prepared like green peas or green beans.  

Moringa is not completely understood in its totality but it is indeed, a miracle tree. This kind of superfood could have a special place in a new world, where malnutrition is unheard of, and the majority of us begin to choose optimal health and sustainable living. 

References:

1. Abdull Razis AF, Ibrahim MD, Kntayya SB. Health benefits of Moringa oleifera.
   Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2014;15(20):8571-6. Review. PubMed PMID: 25374169.
2. Dhakar, Ram C & Maurya, Sheo & Pooniya, Brijendra & Bairwa, Narendra & Gupta, Manisha & Sanwarmal,. (2011). Moringa: The herbal gold to combat malnutrition. Chronicles of Young Scientists. 2. 119-126. 10.4103/2229-5186.90887.
3. Leone A, Spada A, Battezzati A, Schiraldi A, Aristil J, Bertoli S. Moringa oleifera Seeds and Oil: Characteristics and Uses for Human Health. Int J Mol Sci.
4. 2016 Dec 20;17(12). pii: E2141. doi: 10.3390/ijms17122141. Review. PubMed PMID:27999405; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5187941.
5. Vergara-Jimenez, M., Almatrafi, M. M., & Fernandez, M. L. (2017). Bioactive Components in Moringa Oleifera Leaves Protect against Chronic Disease. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 6(4), 91. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox6040091