"Soul" Food Mondays || Genuine Happiness

Genuine Happiness.

Helping and serving others. Have you ever donated to a cause? Or volunteered at a soup kitchen? Or voluntarily relinguished your seat to an elderly rider on the bus/train? Do you remember the feeling you had after accomplishing these tasks of service? A feeling of having met another person's need. A feeling of making a difference. A feeling of worth. A feeling of happiness and satisfaction. Well, certain studies have demonstrated a link between helping others and happiness, and the articles below explain this link. If you are pursuing genuine happiness, make it a point to help others regularly. Put a smile on another person's face, and the result will be one on your face as well!

HAPPINESS & HELPING OTHERS
DO GOOD FEEL GOOD

Let's Talk Turkey Pasta!

A couple of months ago, I was chatting with my sister about what to cook for dinner, and she suggested spaghetti. I looked in my cabinet and saw whole wheat spaghetti. Check. Then I opened my fridge and saw fresh tomatoes. Check. Then I went to the freezer and saw ground turkey. Hmm. I don't usually have spaghetti with ground turkey but it couldn't hurt to try it. So, how'd it go? Boy, was it yummy! I killed two birds - tasty + healthy - with one stone.

So let's talk ground turkey and why it's healthier than ground beef.
Simply put, ground beef has a relatively large amount of saturated fat. What's wrong with that picture? Well, an unhealthy amount of saturated fats can increase the LDL (bad) cholesterol in your body, thus raising the risk for heart attack, stroke, and narrowed arteries. Ground turkey is simply a better option for your heart; ground beef and other red meats are best eaten sparingly.

Now let's get back to talking turkey pasta.
Last week, one of my favorite youtubers posted a turkey pasta recipe with sweet potatoes. Watch her tutorial below if you're interested in trying your hand at her recipe:




*NOTE: I prefer using fresh tomatoes to make spaghetti sauce. Just blend them to a puree and steam most of the water out. Add your favorite seasonings, onions, peppers, and mushrooms and you're good to go!

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MORE READS:
SATURATED FAT

NUTRITION DATA FOR:
70% LEAN GROUND BEEF
90% LEAN GROUND BEEF
GROUND TURKEY

Healthy Care Package GIVEAWAY!!

It's that time again. Time for a GIVEAWAY!! This one is for a Healthy Care package put together by yours truly for your hair, skin, and soul. It will contain the following:

- 4oz of 100% unrefined shea butter
- sample packet of Aveeno Active Naturals Shampoo and Conditioner w/ Nourishing Wheat Complex and Oat Protein
- Eclectix Butterfly Kiss Handcrafted Body Bar w/ lavender buds, coconut oil, etc.
- Stay-On-Satin Bonnet
- 2 Goody Ouchless Elastics (the thick, sturdy ones)
- 4 jumbo black bobby pins
- Alba Botanica Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask
- inspirational quote for the soul

To partake in the giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment below telling me how you keep your skin fresh and healthy.

The contest will close next Thursday, April 1st at 11:59pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random.

Playlist for March

New favorite: high twistout puff (March 22-28)

Sounds like: Ms. Shingai (Noisettes)

Background instrumental: bi-weekly/weekly washes, weekly moisturizing, sleep with a satin bonnet

Shingai

Retired from repeat: big twists (March 1-21)

Tips for Stretching Relaxers or Transitioning

*Strengthen the demarcation line
The demarcation line is the point at which the new growth meets the chemically straigthened hair. Keep this section strong with protein-based conditioning and you will minimize breakage.

*Wear low-manipulation & protective styles
Low manipulation styles include braidouts, twistouts, rollersets, strawsets, and other styles that require minimal styling of the hair afterwards.
Protective styles include buns, braids, twists, cornrows under a wig or sew-in, and other styles that involve almost no styling of the hair afterwards.

*Moisturize regularly & thoroughly
Dry hair is much more prone to breakage and fragility than well-moisturized hair. Look for water-based moisturizers.

*Wash in sections
Especially if your hair is on the longer side. This will reduce tangling, thus reducing breakage.

*Invest in a wide tooth comb
Wide tooth combs are gentler on the demarcation line than brushes and smaller combs.

More tips coming soon ...

Healthy Hair Feature: Gisele

1) Are you natural, relaxed, texlaxed, or transitioning?

I am natural and had my last relaxer in May 2007.

2) What mistakes have you made in your hair care journey?

None comes to mind actually, largely because I don�t do much to my hair between shampoos and I don�t really change my routine and products much.


3) What is your current HEALTHY HAIR routine? (include regimen, products, etc.)

I have been using homemade ayurvedic products to cleanse and condition my hair. Since mid-December I have started wearing twists or braids for between 2-3 weeks. I do not wash it in this period, however I cleanse the scalp daily with a herbal infusion of burdock root/rosemary/lemongrass/bringraj/gotu kola/irish moss/amla/neem. This moisturizes and nourishes the scalp while at the same time effectively removing any scalp build up, preventing any scalp issues. I follow this up by lightly oiling my hair, alternating with shea butter and coconut oil. If my hair is feeling dry, I will lightly spritz it with water before oiling. I shampoo and deep condition each time I remove my twists/braids. In addition, I clarify every 4-6 weeks with neutral henna and fullers earth then deep condition before doing a henna treatment.


4) Do you have a HEALTHY BODY routine? If so, what is it? (diet, skin care, etc.)

Whole grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables are the bulk of my diet. I also consume a fair amount of dairy products daily. I drink at least 64 ounces of water daily and I don�t eat any junk food. I don�t do anything special for my skin care, except ensuring that my diet is rich in essential fatty acids.

5) Do you have any advice for those seeking healthy tresses?

I would advise to keep things as simple as possible. Try to adopt a routine that fits into your lifestyle so that it is easier to stick to it. I also find it helpful to consider your hair care an extension of a healthy lifestyle.

No Poo Review: Baking Soda with Conditioner

Definition of no poo: cleansing of the hair using an alternative method to shampooing.

It's going on two months since I switched to a no-poo regimen, and so far it's been going well; my hair feels clean, softer, and requires less moisturization. There are numerous ways to go the no-poo route, but what's been working for me is the combination of baking soda and conditioner diluted with water for washing + minimal use of products. Here are the main benefits of a no-poo regimen:

*eliminates the drying, harsh effects of shampoo (particularly commercial shampoos containing sulfates)
*in some cases, eliminates the deep conditioning step
*inexpensive - your wallet will be happy

What I like about this baking soda technique over other no-poo methods is a) it removes buildup, dirt, etc. from my scalp and hair really well while b) retaining the moisture and softness of my tresses. Here's a rundown of what I do:

1) Mix 3 parts water, 2-3 parts conditioner, and 1 part baking soda in an applicator bottle
2) Rinse hair under lukewarm water for 1-2 minutes
3) Apply diluted baking soda conditioner to scalp ONLY
4) Massage scalp thoroughly for 5 minutes
5) Rinse scalp and hair thoroughly
6) Follow up with an apple cider vinegar rinse, if necessary

Afterwards, I condition with V05 for 2-5 minutes, rinse, then moisturize as usual. A no-poo regimen is ideal for hair that is prone to dryness. With this method, it is important to minimize, or even eliminate, the use of heavy products which require the use of a shampoo for removal (e.g., products containing silicones). An occasional clarifier or shampoo may still be necessary , but it depends on the person and actual technique used.

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TUTORIAL, ETC.:
YOUTUBE VID OF BAKING SODA WASH: (She uses baking soda, conditioner, water, & oil)
ACV RINSE RECIPE & EXPLANATION
EXPLANATION OF NO-POO METHOD
EXPLANATION OF CG METHOD

The Hair Shebang Discount!

The Hair Shebang is offering all Healthy Hair and Body followers a Spring discount! The offer begins tomorrow -- March 10th -- and lasts through March 31. You get a FREE set of rosy henna melts or $4 off your purchase of $15 or more. Enter the code "hairandhealth" in the message to seller. Enjoy!