4 Mistakes that Will Keep Your Hair Stuck at the Same Length

by Geniece – April 25, 2012




When I made the decision to go natural in 2004 I was under the impression that my hair would grow long and thick with little effort. My relaxed hair grew past shoulder length with relative ease, so I naturally assumed that with the elimination of harsh chemicals my hair would be stronger and longer. Now you think I was naïve but in my defense I didn’t have Youtube videos and natural hair blogs at my disposal. Armed with my non-sulfate shampoo, wide tooth comb and 5lb tub of shea butter I was ready for my hair to grow lusciously long. Well, that isn’t exactly what happened. My TWA grew out quickly enough but my hair seemed to reach a plateau once I reached shoulder length. I was stumped but not discouraged. I enjoyed my puffs and mini twists even after 2 ½ years with only about 3-6 inches of retention I wasn’t dismayed. In retrospect there are several mistakes I made over those years to which some of you may be able to relate. In ascending order here are my top four hair mistakes.

4. No regular moisturizing of my hair

The shea butter was fine to use but it didn’t add moisture to my hair. My hair was dry in between washes and remained so until I figured out that my hair needed to be moisturized in between washes and that moisture meant a water based product or just plain old water. Duh!

3. Hair Washing

I washed my hair like I was one of those models on a shampoo commercial. I lathered the shampoo by rubbing it throughout my hair and scalp without sectioning. Can you say tangles? I would then rip through my hair when detangling further ensuring that my hair never passed a certain length.

2. Dry Combing

I would almost daily rake a comb through my hair with no moisturizing product. I think this was one of my most damaging practices. The regular manipulation of my hair ensured that the tangled ends were constantly being ripped out, hence the lack of retention.

And, the top hair mistake of my natural hair journey (drum roll please):

1. Abuse of Heat

I did the occasional blow out without using heat protectant but my hair never seemed to suffer any visible damage. I even went to the salon twice to get a press and curl and my hair seemed to bounce right back. It took a really negative experience with heat for me to truly get the message that my hair care practices were nothing short of a hot mess.

The Great Heat Fiasco of 2007

In July of 2007, the most humid month of the year, I got the bright idea to flat iron my hair. I bought a ceramic iron, some anti-frizz lotion and after about 2 hours, using a heat setting of 450 degrees, I had a head of straight hair. I was rather proud of my results and wanted to maintain the look for the next two weeks. Because it was July I needed to touch up the hair daily, sometimes multiple times a day, with my flat iron set on 450 degrees. When I washed my hair two weeks later I was shocked to find straightened, limp hair rather than the fluffy shrunken fro to which I had grown accustomed. My hair was severely heat damaged. The damage was so severe that when I went to a hair stylist she questioned if I was growing out my relaxer before I could even explain my heat damage. To deal with the two textures I decided to disguise the damage by wearing updos. I slowly trimmed off the ends and by mid 2008 I was damage free and at about the same length I was prior to my heat fiasco. Although the experience was unfortunate it was a wake up call. I learned that my hair was not invincible. I also gained a newfound appreciation for my natural hair texture. I vowed not to do anything to compromise my texture from then on out.

This is a picture of my heat damaged hair. If I’d known the hair wouldn’t revert I probably wouldn’t be cheesing so hard.



After my heat damage experience I began to think more seriously about hair care. In the beginning of 2009 I thought about charting my length retention. I never followed through because I was so fed up with my hair. It wasn’t until November of 2009 when I decided actively change my practices that I started to document my hair journey regularly on my youtube channel and in photos.

Pressed hair in January 2009 (I don’t know if you can tell but those ends are raggedy.)



I look back on these pictures and realize that I’m glad I made these mistakes sooner than later. I didn’t like having to trim away 3-8 inches of heat damage but if I made this mistake now it’s possible I’d have to trim away upwards of 17 inches of damage. Ouch!

If you’ve been discouraged over a hair set back that you’ve experienced during your hair journey then take heart, you’re in good company. You now know what NOT to do and how to better care for your natural tresses. If you haven’t experienced the kind of setbacks that I have described then please, PLEASE, learn from my errors. Wishing you all a happy hair journey!

Ladies, what mistakes have you made that kept your hair stuck, length-wise?

Does Low-Carb Equal Fab Abs?

MAY 26, 2013 BY JULIE




I spent part of the holiday weekend at the Northern California CrossFit Regionals, where I saw some of the strongest abs on women that I’ve ever seen! These ladies didn’t have six-packs, they were sporting 12-pack-abs.

While the strength required to compete in CrossFit means that these women have built some serious muscle mass, the fact that you can see their abdominal muscles means that they don’t have a lot of body fat. That’s because the only way to see your abs is to lower total body fat.

That made me think about what CrossFit’s female athletes are doing in the kitchen to develop such lean physiques. Could it be that they’re eating a diet that’s often encouraged by CrossFit that recommends whole foods like lots of veggies, plenty of lean proteins; some fruit and  limited amounts of grains, sweets or processed foods?


How Low Does My Body Fat Need to Be to See My Abs?

As a general rule, most women will find that they won’t see any abdominal definition unless they are less than 18 percent body fat.  In fact, some women need to get down to 14-15% body fat or so before they’ll see abdominal definition.  For men, ab definition becomes visible at around 10% body fat.

All the crunches in the world won’t help you get a washboard, but changes in your diet will.  In fact, some new studies show that eating fewer nutrient-poor carbohydrates (read: candy, soda, baked goods) helps target ab fat better than a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet.

Could fewer carbs= less ab fat? Research says….maybe

Results of a study  presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting tested two different diet interventions on adult subjects: 1) a typical US diet (comprised of 55% calories from carbs, 27% fat and 18% protein) and 2) a diet that provided 43% of calories form carbs, 39% from fat and 18% from protein.

The diets were matched for each subject’s caloric intake to assure no weight loss during the first phase of the study. In the second phase, each subject’s diet was reduced by 1,000 calories a day and all food was provided during the total duration of the study. The researchers used the most advanced body composition scans, called DEXA, to monitor the total body fat of the subjects before and after each diet trial.


Results? 

After the weight maintenance phase, subjects who consumed the moderately carb-restricted diet had 11 percent less deep belly fat compared to those who at the more traditional carb-rich diet.

Other human clinical trials have also found similar results: Diets that are lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein and fat (40% calories from carbs, 30% from fat and 30% from protein) may help reduce visceral belly fat better than typical high-carb diets.

Despite all the “Abs Diet” books and special ab-flattening exercises, any diet that promotes weight loss will result in losing belly fat because abdominal fat is readily mobilized when the body needs fuel.

Bottom Line:

The best places to change your diet to reduce ab fat is to eat less added sugars, saturated fats and refined grains—as all are linked with excessive abdominal fat. Eat a diet rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains and get daily physical activity. Abdominal exercises will strengthen your muscles, but won’t do much—if anything—to lose the fat that’s blanketing them.

Is Your Water Tainting Your Organic Produce?

By CULLIGAN MAN | Published: APRIL 12, 2012


We see you at the grocery store, perusing the organic food aisle. Making sure the fruits and veggies you delicately place into your cart are organically grown and free of pesticides. Maybe you drove to the local farmers market to pick and choose the berries and herbs and vegetables from your grocery list.

But later in the week, when you pull that same produce out to make a nice salad or enjoy some fresh fruit, are you rinsing it with unfiltered tap water?



Stop right there.

You could be rinsing your fresh organic produce with water tainted by the very pesticides you hoped to avoid by purchasing organic in the first place. Pesticides, through runoff, can find themselves in streams and groundwater, and eventually into your glass of water.

Keep in mind, a report from the United States Geological Society told us these pesticides are rarely at concentrations likely to affect humans, but if you’re already putting forth the money for organic produce, do you want to risk tainting them even a little?

If you’re worried about the food you put into your body, we say worry about the water, too. They go hand in hand. Think about a water filtration system. We certainly do. Obviously.

Five Reasons to Detox Using a Coffee Enema

Saturday, May 18, 2013 by: Angela Doss




(NaturalNews) Colons today have it pretty rough. Whether from the stress of a hurried lifestyle, consumption of poor quality and highly processed foods like sweets and sugars that feed harmful organisms, inadequate levels of digestive enzymes that send partially digested proteins and starches to the colon where they ferment and rot, overuse of antibiotics which destroy intestinal flora, or simply failing to empty the bowels when nature calls, the colon is the organ of the body most in need of serious attentive healing.

Though eating well, taking supplements and keeping active are certainly key in maintaining a healthy body, a more direct and effective way to target colon health is to do routine coffee enemas. Though some may be all too quick to dismiss the treatment due to personal sensitivities, the steady increase of gastrointestinal illnesses and digestive disorders would seem to demand that it's high time we get comfortable with the processes of our own internal plumbing.

For thousands of years, people have been using enemas to cleanse their colons. In fact, references to coffee enemas once appeared in medical physican's handbook known as the Merck Manual and were later brought to more mainstream attention by Dr. Max Gerson, whose meticulous application of coffee enemas, combined with a specialized diet, fresh juices and certain nutritional supplements, produced impressive results in patients with cancer and other degenerative and chronic conditions.

Enemas can work wonders to assist the body to do what it wants to do, but can't always accomplish, under the continual bombardment by the many stressors in our world. Enemas help the body to dump harmful toxins, and fast. In truth, the extraordinary and numerous benefits of coffee enemas may be both under reported and over-criticized.

What coffee enemas can do for you

1. Dramatically reduce toxicity

A 1982 study by the National Research Council (NRC) showed that coffee enemas have the power to reduce systemic toxicity by up to 700 percent. This is because caffeine and other beneficial compounds found in coffee -- when not consumed by mouth and therefore diluted by the digestive tract -- work together to stimulate the liver directly to increase production of glutathione S-transferase (GST), a powerful detoxifying enzyme that binds with, and flushes out, toxins in the body.

2. Improve digestion

When food is not properly digested, it can become fermented, putrefied or rotted in the colon, producing toxins that are absorbed into the liver. This process is a common factor in the development of health complications, with many complaining of impaired digestion. By increasing bile flow and facilitating the release of toxins from the large intestines, coffee enemas help ensure the body does not reabsorb these harmful chemicals. Plus, more bile means a more alkaline small intestine, which helps to improve the digestive process.

3. Ease chronic pain

Credit for the discovery of coffee enemas for pain relief go to a nurse in a World War 1 German army field hospital. At a time when painkillers were scarce, the nurse found that by administering enemas to several badly wounded soldiers, they experienced almost immediate relief from what was often profound and persistent pain.

4. Prevent illness

The deep cleansing and detoxification effects of routine enemas not only help to heal existing health conditions, but they also help the body to perform its innate healing functions more easily. A properly functioning internal environment is less susceptible to the development of chronic or degenerative illness.

5. Boost energy and brighten smiles

Because of its particularly powerful detoxifying effects, coffee enemas essentially transform the tired sluggish body overburdened by toxicity into a cleaner, clearer more effective eliminator. The impacts of this dramatic shift are palpable and can leave a person feeling "high", with more energy, greater mental clarity and wider grins.

LIVE EVENT! Protecting Our Fathers - Sat, June 8th 3-5PM

"Protecting Our Fathers"

Join us for a live event...

A Pre-Father's Day Event Focused on the

Health & Wellness for the Men in our Lives

brought to you by Infinity Health & Wellness
and Mellow Massage Therapy Center 

This event is being held in a Yoga Center, so bring a yoga mat if you have one (and if not, no worries). We'll be doing some yoga moves at half time for those interested.

>> Saturday, June 8th from 3 pm - 5 pm

Hosted at Mellow Massage Therapy Center in the courtyard
3502 Scotts Lane, Building 19, Suite 1911

Non-Member Cost: $25 at the door.

CLIENTS of Infinity Health and Wellness & Mellow Massage and their guests are FREE when you register now. That's right, the $25 fee is waived for clients of Infinity Health and Wellness.

Reserve your seat now!

TOPIC: "Men: Reversing Disease & Managing Pain"
presented by Dr. Marjorie Dejoie

Dr. Marjorie Dejoie is the product of Haitian/American parents, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Marjorie obtained her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and shortly thereafter, her Personal Training certification. She went on to specialize in Internal Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Marjorie’s ground breaking work as a primary medical and exercise consultant for the Mayor's Fun Fit and Free campaign allowed her to apply her training in an integrative, community-based, preventative format with the primary goal of making Philadelphia a healthier city. 

From there she molded a career in what she has coined "Restorative Medicine" which utilizes a fusion of the principles of medicine, prescribed exercise, bio-psychosocial elements and alternative medicine in the "holistic" treatment of patients.

Through her business "Bonne Sante", Marjorie has dedicated herself to making this world a better place by making it healthier, one person at a time. She hopes to positively impact the lives of everyone that she comes in contact with, but especially those with chronic illnesses. It is Marjorie’s hope that in the future, she will open up a facility that provides acute medical treatment in the form of a day unit, healthy life principles in the form of a wellness center and supportive service through a psychosocial component. Through awareness, education, empowerment and change, the paths to wellness and health are endless.

TOPIC: "The Genocide of Men at the Dinner Table.  How Meat, Dairy, & Other Hybrid Foods Are Killing Our Men"

presented by Ch. Min. Billel El of ISIS

Billel Jafari El is certified in and has studied a variety of areas of Nutritional and Natural Health and Healing.    

He lectures around the country to thousands of listeners about the hypocrisy of the food and health industry, the true "Food Pyramid", laboratory foods vs foods from the forests, acidic vs alkaline, animal flesh vs plant based nutrition, healing the body from injury and disease through nutrition & herbs, raw vs cooked, and more.

Ch. Min Billel El has studied, trained, taught, and practiced the discipline of martial Arts and Sciences, specializing in Traditional Wushu Training Northern Long Fist Praying Mantis Boxing for more than 25 years, receiving countless trophies & awards.  He’s also a certified Personal Physical Fitness Instructor, Certified Crowd Control Security Specialist, and Weapons Trainer.  

Raised in Philadelphia, subjected to cultural ignorance & the rough lessons of the young inner city male for survival, Minister Billel El’s voice is powerful, and his rhetoric is strong, reminisncent of the struggles he endored.  He teaches nutrition, its history, and its future with knowledge, and vigor.

This LIVE EVENT Made Possible by Cheryl Tyler
Owner of Infinity Health & Wellness Center

Cheryl Tyler, Certified Colon Hydro Therapist, and Certified Nutritional Consultant, is one of the partners at the Infinity Health & Wellness Colonic Center, Philadelphia, Pa. Ms. Tyler received her Colon Hydro Therapy training at the acclaimed Awareness Institute For Wellness & Education in Marietta, Ga. and The Nile Wellness Center, Atlanta, Ga., under the direct tutelage of Dr. Michael Imani, Ph.D. Mind/Body Medicine & author of “The Diet Code.” She received her Certificate in Plant Based Nutrition with the esteemed Cornell University under the renowned Dr. T. Colin Campbell, author of “The China Study." She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Business Administration and Accounting with Regis University, Denver, Co. Ms. Tyler has practiced in the area of holistic health, wellness, & fitness for the past 15 years, after serving her country for 9 years as a soldier in the United States Army.

Her motivation for holistic wellness: Loosing family member after family member to cancer, heart disease, drug addiction & psyche disorders, & suffering all of her life with digestive system concerns. Ms. Tyler found that helping others live a healthier lifestyle was the most productive way to deal with familial deaths. She accomplishes this mission while servicing clients with COLON HYDRO THERAPY, and giving the clients a laymen’s education in what it takes to maintain a healthy digestive system. As goes our digestive system, so goes our health. Cleansing the colon, detoxifying the body, regular exercise and eating primarily plant-based nutrition is the solid and proven key to longevity, sound mind, and healthy, & fit body. Ms. Tyler and the staff at Infinity Health & Wellness Colonic Center, Phila., Pa. speaks at health & wellness events to get the good news across to as many people as possible. The Good News: We can beat CANCER & other chronic diseases.

Moringa Oleifera

As we learn more about cancer, we are empowered to use more of the tools which nature has created for us to help battle this terrible disease. The fight against cancer exists on many fronts, encompassing both prevention and treatment methods. In the past we have put all of our faith in pharmaceutical drugs, however these are not the only weapons we have at our disposal to do battle with cancer. Moringa Oleifera is a plant which is known to have many medicinal properties. It is becoming very clear that this natural resource is a helpful ally in a comprehensive treatment of cancer.

Moringa has been shown in studies to have an anti-tumor capacity. Moringa contains benzyl isothiocyanate. There are many studies that have shown this chemical and compounds derived thereof to have anti-cancer and chemoprotective capabilities. This chemoprotective aspect is critical for those who are battling cancer; this helps strengthen cells so that they can tolerate chemotherapy.

Moringa Oleifera has other characteristics which make it a good compliment to a cancer prevention or treatment plan. It contains an enormous amount of nutritional content; Moringa Oleifera contains vitamins, minerals, and amino acids which are critical for good health. It is loaded with calcium, iron, potassium, protein, Vitamin A and C, and many more properties which promote a healthy body that has the tools to fight cancer. It is known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, antioxidant, anti-allergenic, and pain relief uses. It has also been put to use to fight a variety of infections.

This incredibly useful tree has grown popular of late due to its ability to help sustain populations that have otherwise been fraught with nutritional problems. It tends to grow in areas where access to food and clean water are more complicated. The successes that many have had with Moringa Oleifera in promoting good health in some of the most devastated areas have lead many scientists to examine its properties closely. It is fast emerging as a means to prevent cancer. It is also gaining notoriety as a product which helps cancer patients who are currently undergoing pharmaceutical treatment.

Fighting cancer is about equipping your body with the tools to fight every day. While drug therapies are very useful in this fight, it is also key that naturally occurring dietary options are used as well. Total health will give a cancer patient the endurance to battle the disease with full energy. The anti-tumor properties in Moringa Oleifera will be of special interest to cancer patients. Also, for those undergoing chemotherapy, the chemoprotective properties associated with this wonderful plant will empower the patient to stand strong when using chemotherapy to fight cancer. Investigate the studies which show this plant to be useful in a comprehensive battle against cancer. Always be sure to discuss all of your treatments options with your doctor, including your choice of dietary supplements, as interactions between chemicals must always be closely monitored when undergoing drug treatment. Moringa Oleifera has exciting potential as an ally in the war against cancer.


Moringa Oleifera: A treatment for Diabetes

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder where the human body does not produce or properly uses insulin, a hormone that is required to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by constant high levels of blood glucose (sugar). Human body has to maintain the blood glucose level at a very narrow range, which is done with insulin and glucagons.

The abnormally high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) resulting from insufficient levels of the hormone insulin which is characteristic symptoms polyuria, polydipsia, glucoseuria, unexplained weight loss, and lethargy. There are two types of diabetes: Type I diabetes known as insulin dependent diabetes and Type II diabetes refer to insulin non dependent diabetes. Diabetes II can be avoided through proper dieting, medication and regular exercise.

Diabetes will lead to complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, cardiovascular problems etc., researchers recently reported that vitamin D is essential for the islet cells in the pancreas to be able to secrete insulin properly. The studies have shown that individuals with low vitamin D levels experienced the worst blood sugar-handling problems and had a greater risk of developing diabetes. Moringa as a rich source of ascorbic acid helps in insulin secretion. It is interesting to note that certain nutrients like vitamins B1, B2, B12, pantothenic acid, vitamin C, protein and potassium – along with small frequent meals containing some carbohydrate – can actually stimulate production of insulin within the body.

Vitamin A as an antioxidant helps convert beta-carotene efficiently, which reduces the risk of blindness in diabetics. Vitamin B 12 can help people suffering form diabetic neuropathy. High dose supplements of vitamin C have been shown to prevent sorbitol accumulation and glycosylation of proteins, both of which are important factors in the development of diabetic complications such as cataracts. Studies have shown that a low vitamin-E concentration was associated with a 3.9 times greater risk of developing diabetes. Vitamin E reduces oxidative stress, thus improving membrane physical characteristics and related activities in glucose transport. This antioxidant promotes healing of diabetes-related lesions. Magnesium helps in the metabolism of glycogen, Mg works closely with vitamin B 6 to help the metabolic process with in the cell. Moringa has all these nutrients and helps the diabetic patient control their blood glucose level.

Antioxidant Properties To Boost Your Immune System

If you want to stay healthy, you need to feed your body properly. Although it is recommended to eat several servings of fruits and vegetables, the food pyramid is considered by many to be inadequate for individuals who are trying to maintain their optimum health. So we need supplements which will provide the entire essential nutrients needed by our body.

Moringa is recommended as nutrient supplement because it helps digest the food by supplying the minerals for effective digestion. This will help your body to totally absorb all the food nutrients.

The Moringa plant provides a rich and rare combination of zeatin, quercetin, β-sitosterol, caffeoylquinic acid and kaempferol. Moringa Oleifera is very important for its medicinal value. Various parts of this plant such as the leaves, roots, seed, bark, fruit, flowers and immature pods act as cardiac and circulatory stimulants, possess antitumor, antipyretic, antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antispasmodic, diuretic, antihypertensive, cholesterol lowering, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Oxidative by-products of normal metabolism cause extensive damage to DNA, protein, and lipid. This damage (the same as that produced by radiation) is a major contributor to aging and to degenerative diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune-system decline, brain dysfunction and cataracts.

Research is increasingly showing that those who eat antioxidant-rich foods reap health benefits. Moringa supplements can boost antioxidant levels, Moringa contains 46 antioxidants that helps the cells neutralize the free radicals due to oxidative stress.

Antioxidants are also involved in the prevention of cellular damage — the common pathway for cancer, aging, and a variety of diseases. Athletes have a keen interest because of health concerns and the prospect of enhanced performance and/or recovery from exercise. Increased intake of vitamin E is a protection against exercise induced oxidative damage. Moringa contains Vitamin E that neutralizes these damaging conditions.

Managing Diabetes

There is no cure for diabetes. However, there are several ways to manage the condition in order to keep insulin at the proper level. There are several different techniques and strategies for managing diabetes. Some of them include:

• carefully monitoring one's diet in order to keep blood sugar levels in check;
• using insulin injections as needed to maintain optimal levels in those whose bodies don't produce the hormone;
• keeping a close eye on blood sugar levels by using special kits that measure insulin and sugar in the blood; and
• following an exercise routine in order to keep blood pressure levels in check.

Moringa Oleifera as Treatment for Gout & Arthritis

For many centuries Moringa Oleifera was used in traditional medicine, such as the "Ayurveda", as a treatment Arthritis and Gout. It was believed that Moringa Leaf Powder reduce inflammations and pain caused by these conditions.

In 2008 the Faculty of Medicine Health Sciences of the Putra University in Malaysia, published a research aimed to test if Moringa poses any Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory activities, the same activities achieved by the drugs used in modern medicine such as NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). The research found that the Moringa leaves posses substances that have antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activitie; in fact they found that it has high quantities of these substances. This means that Moringa Oleifera use in Indian traditional medicine as a treatment for Arthritis and Gout.

The effects of the Moringa is suppressing the COX-2 enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for inflammation processes and pain. Usually the drugs used to suppress this enzyme are NSAID such as Voltaren, Nksin, Adoil, ARCOXIA, Kaspo etc. The side effects of these products include risk for stroke, kidney problems, blood vessels problems, stomach problems and the list goes on.

Elevated Blood Pressure

Blood pressure tends to rise with age. Following a healthy lifestyle helps some people delay or prevent this rise in blood pressure.

High blood pressure increases your chance (or risk) for getting heart disease and/or kidney disease, and for having a stroke. It is especially dangerous since it often has no warning signs or symptoms. Regardless of race, age, or gender, anyone can develop high blood pressure. It is estimated that one in every four American adults has high blood pressure. Once high blood pressure develops, it usually lasts a lifetime.

High blood pressure can eventually cause blood vessels in the eye to burst or bleed. Vision may become blurred or otherwise impaired and can result in blindness. As people get older, arteries throughout the body “harden,” especially those in the heart, brain, and kidneys. High blood pressure is associated with these “stiffer” arteries. This, in turn, causes the heart and kidneys to work harder. The kidneys act as filters to rid the body of wastes. Over time, high blood pressure can narrow and thicken the blood vessels of the kidneys. The kidneys filter less fluid, and waste builds up in the blood. The kidneys may fail altogether.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack. The arteries bring oxygen-carrying blood to the heart muscle. If the heart cannot get enough oxygen, chest pain, also known as “angina,” can occur. If the flow of blood is blocked, a heart attack results. High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF is a serious condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply the body’s needs.

The important nutrients needed by a person suffering from high blood pressure are Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc, and Vitamin E. Moringa contains these entire nutrient in it. Moringa contains Vitamin C helps support the body’s production of nitric oxide, which is critical to normal functioning of blood vessels. The better your blood vessels work, the lower your risk of hypertension. Calcium is needed for smooth muscle relaxation and contraction; increased consumption can have a direct effect on blood vessels. It’s best to get your calcium from your diet; studies have found that compared with supplements, dietary calcium has twice the benefits for blood pressure.

Potassium content of the Moringa is 15 times more compared to Banana. Potassium acts by increasing sodium excretion in the urine, which helps blood vessels dilate, and changing the interactions of hormones that affect blood pressure.

Diet high in magnesium benefits those with hypertension, most likely by contributing to the relaxation of the smooth muscles of the blood vessels. Moringa also contains magnesium along with zinc and vitamin E which takes part in decreasing the blood pressure along with other nutrients.

Anti-Aging

Aging affects our social environment. Symptoms of old age includes wrinkles and liver spots on the skin, hair loss , lessened hearing , poor eyesight , slower reaction times and agility , reduced ability to think clearly , difficulty recalling memories , greater susceptibility to bone diseases such as osteoarthritis. Elderly people tend to have lower body temperatures and infections that would cause fever. Elderly pneumonia sufferers may present symptoms such as rapid breathing, reduced appetite and reduced functioning. Elderly urinary tract infection sufferers may present symptoms such as incontinence, confusion and may suffer from falls.

Moringa/Malunggay is rich in vitamin to the extent that it is one of the richest plant source of Vitamins. Moringa has Vitamin A (Beta Carotene), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B6 Pyrodixine), Vitamin B7 (Biotin), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol), Vitamin E (Tocopherol) and Vitamin K. Vitamin A is needed to prevent night blindness, promotes healthy skin, and fights infections. Vitamin C is needed to maintain healthy gums, assists in healing wounds, and helps the body use iron. Vitamin E will protect your body against free radical damage to cells. Calcium and Vitamin D are essential to maintain strong bones and teeth.

The list of Minerals present in Moringa is abundant and few of the main minerals include Calcium, Copper, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese and Zinc. Calcium is one of the most important minerals for the growth, maintenance, and reproduction of the human body. Blood coagulation, transmission of nerve impulses, muscle contraction and relaxation, normal heart beat, stimulation of hormone secretion, activation of enzyme reactions, as well as other functions, all require small amounts of calcium. After age 50, more calcium or 1,200 milligrams are needed to prevent a disease called osteoporosis. As you age, minerals in your bones are lost and bones may get thinner.

Moringa contains all the essential minerals needed for maintaining strong bones. Good nutrition can help lessen the effects of diseases prevalent among elderly population and improve their quality of life.

Moringa/Malunggay is the richest source of Calcium. Malunggay has 17 times more Calcium than that of milk, helps to prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis during old age and strengthen the bones of the young and middle age people. Moringa, with 25 times more Iron than that of Spinach, helps in the formation of hemoglobin and myoglobin, which carry the oxygen in the blood and the muscle. Iron also makes up part of many proteins and enzymes in the body, deficiency of which leads to the weakening of the immune system, helps in improving the mental ability as the oxygen supply to the brain increases.

Moringa For Lactating Mothers

A new born baby has only three demands. They warmth in the arms of its mother, food from her breast and security in the knowledge of her presence. Breast feeding satisfies all the three.
Breast milk is the natural and complete food for infants. It is safe, inexpensive and provides all nutrients most babies need for the first 6 months of life. Researches have shown that breastfed babies are less like to suffer eczema, food allergy and respiratory illness than formula-fed babies. In the philippines, 85 % of mothers initiated breast feeding soon after delivery but only 22% of these mothers are still exclusively feeding by one month old. Most mothers after initiating expression of breast milk on the first few days postpartum complain of insufficient volume of breast milk. This has prompted mothers to shift their children to bottle feeding and stop breast feeding.

Galactagogues are herbs that promote and establish the flow of mother’s milk. Moringa/Malunggay is one of the most studied herbs in the Philippines. As a galactogogue, several studies confirm its efficacy. However, it is usually promoted to be given 3 days postpartum or after delivery to induce lactation. The lactation enhancing effects of Moringa leaves as evidenced by a greater increase in maternal serum prolactin levels. Prolactin is the most important hormone in the initiation of laction. Moringa/Malunggay capsules are effective galactagogues if given prior to delivery with onset of adequate amount.

Mo’Nique Discusses Dramatic Weight Loss Since ‘Precious’: ‘I Was a Food Junkie’

By Jeremy Blacklow | Movie Talk – Wed, May 15, 2013 2:44 PM EDT





Mo'Nique is serious these days about taking care of her health, and in a new radio interview, she's revealing some of the secrets behind her workout routine and new svelte figure.
The 45-year-old actress and comedienne, who won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award in 2010 for her role in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," sat down this week with The Cipha Sounds & Rosenberg Show on New York radio station Hot 97 FM for a long-ranging half-hour interview, in which she discussed topics ranging from Charles Ramsey to Iyanla Vanzant. But the story behind her dramatic weight loss is what's turning heads.
Mo'Nique has been tweeting her daily workouts, most days posting snapshots of her odometer once it has logged her minimum "10,000 steps," along with various other fitness activities. She explained to the show hosts that the reason why she's been documenting her journey is to be an inspiration to others.
"I tweet every morning, my workouts," she began. "Because I want women to see - especially us big women - that you don’t have to let them cut you and suck it out, you don't have to let them staple you up, you don't have to let them give you a pill, you don't have to let them put a band around your organs. If you put the work in, baby, I promise you, it comes off."
And come off, it has! "The weight right now, when I got on a scale two weeks ago, was 218," she continued. "My goal is between 190 and 200."
"What were you before?" co-host K. Foxx then asked Mo'Nique.
"Well now, you see K … what I was before was … when my husband asked me I said, '262,' but I don't actually know if that was the right number. That was the weight that I had a year prior to him asking me that. But when I watch reruns of 'The Parkers,' I know I was tipping 300."
"And how do you feel?" K asked.
"I am the best Mo'Nique I've ever been in my life right now. And I still have a ways to go. But I feel amazing sis."
Mo'Nique added that she's proud of herself and believes she has never looked this good in her life before. And while she emphasizes that she always felt in the past that she was a big and beautiful woman, she says it is her husband who caused her to step back and look at the damage she was causing to her body (due to her weight).
"It made me say (to myself), 'OK sis, you got these babies. The twins are 7, (stepson) Michael's 9, Shalon's 22.' And I want to meet their babies. So, I said, 'Let me stop being selfish, and eating everything.' And I ate everything … I was a food junkie."
And it looks from these pictures like she's doing quite well on her way to recovery!

10 Fascinating Facts About the Human Body

Five Little Ways to Improve your Life

MAY 15, 2013 BY JULIE




You don’t have to make sweeping changes to improve your health and well being. In fact, many of my clients don’t even try to eat better because they think it’s too overwhelming and they don’t know what’s healthy and what’s not.

But eating right doesn’t require having a masters degree in nutrition or a culinary background. These five diet tips are simple but can provide big health payoffs. If you want to feel better, reduce your risk for chronic diseases or lose weight, these little tweaks work.


1. Opt for Darker & Brightly Colored Produce Picks

The darker and more colorful the produce, the more nutrients and beneficial phytonutrients it contains. So, whenever possible, choose red grapes over green; pink grapefruit over white; red leaf lettuce instead of iceberg or sweet potatoes over white potatoes.  Try to eat a variety of brightly colored produce choices every day. And, whenever possible eat the skin of fruits and vegetables because the skin is often the most concentrated source of fiber and phytonutrients.


2. Choose Wholesome Whole Grains

Thousands of products claim to be “whole grain” or “made with whole grains,” but research suggests that many are more hype than help. Harvard researchers suggest when choosing a whole grain to look at the Nutrition Facts panel to make sure that for every 10 grams of carbohydrates in a serving there is at least 1 gram of fiber.  This 10:1 ratio will help ensure that the whole grain product isn’t loaded with added sugars and saturated fat.


3. Avoid Eating “Naked” Carbs

Eating carby foods like crackers, sweets, bread, low-fat dairy desserts and cereal bars on their own often causes increased hunger and cravings for more carbs shortly thereafter. Instead, enjoy carbs with some type of protein to slow the blood sugar response and keep you fuller longer.  Crackers with low-fat cheese, toast with nut butter, oatmeal with Greek yogurt are examples of great.


4. Drink Half Your Body Weight In Water

A great hydration goal is to try to drink half your body weight in water every day.  If you weigh 140 pounds, that means you should strive to drink 70 ounces of water a day. Water helps to keep your metabolism revving and is essential for the health of every cell.


5. Eat Real Food

The best ingredient for a longer, healthier life is to eat real food. By real food, I mean less processed packaged foods and beverages and more fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, low-fat dairy, nuts and seeds and vegetable oils. If you diet is comprised of 80% real foods, your diet will provide more satisfying nutrition with each bite.

Got a headache? Foods and the active components within them that will alleviate even the toughest headaches fast

Monday, May 13, 2013 by: Zach C. Miller




(NaturalNews) In today's complex, connected world, headaches are more and more common all the time. Tension headaches, which are caused by daily stressors, affect 80 percent of adults according to the World Health Organization. To exacerbate the problem is the proliferation of wireless devices and cell phone towers which emit EMF radiation which massively contributes to headaches, among other health problems. Luckily, there are superfoods that can help soothe headaches naturally.

Magnesium-rich foods

Magnesium-rich foods can help soothe headaches by relaxing blood vessels. To beat headaches before they strike, eat a diet rich in magnesium-rich foods such as almonds, bananas, avocados, legumes and seeds, spinach, and brown rice. As is the usual recommended protocol for NaturalNews readers, try to buy these and any other superfoods organic to avoid nasty pesticides and herbicides.

Calcium-rich foods

A pounding head may be a sign that your body is deficient of calcium. Since the brain depends on calcium to function efficiently, it's important to consume calcium-rich foods regularly and particularly when you have headache. Some foods loaded with calcium include yogurt, sesame seeds, almonds, and dark leafy greens such as collard greens, spinach and kale.

Omega 3-rich foods

Omega 3-rich foods are excellent for healing headaches because the essential oils reduce the inflammation that happens when the blood vessels in your head become inflamed and constrict, the result being headache pain. Thus it's important to consume Omega 3-rich foods regularly, and particularly when you have a headache. Some foods rich in omega-3s include fish such as herring, salmon, tuna, shrimp, halibut, red snapper or sardines, walnuts, olive oil, and ground up flax seeds or flax oil. Flax oil or seeds can be mixed with fruit juice and consumed as a drink to help make them more palatable.

Vitamin E-rich foods

Vitamin E is important to consider when facing a headache because when it is present in your body, it works to promote circulation and healthy, normal blood flow, which can ease headache pain. Therefore, it's important to make sure to eat Vitamin E-rich foods when you feel a headache coming on. Foods rich in vitamin E are almonds, papaya, kiwi, red bell peppers, and broccoli.

Foods with high water content

Since being dehydrated can exacerbate headaches, re-hydrating becomes critical to getting headache relief. Since many of us have trouble remembering to drink enough water, eating foods filled with water is a no-brainer for re-hydrating. Some foods with high water content include watermelon, melons such as honeydew and cantaloupe, cucumber, berries, lettuce, and soup.

Superfood headache cure: ginger

Ginger is a superfood that's considered to be one of the most effective headache cures. Like omega-3 rich foods, ginger has the power to reduce the inflammation associated with headaches. Making ginger tea from raw ginger slices is an easy way to make a stand-alone headache cure. You can also add ginger to many recipes to make your favorite recipes into more powerful headache soothing superfood.

Now you're armed to take down even the toughest headaches naturally. Also, if you find yourself at work or home surrounded by Wi-Fi, venture out into nature away from buildings to get additional relief from the EMF fields that promote and exacerbate headache pain.

The Top Six Fruits for Energy

Monday, May 13, 2013 by: PF Louis



(NaturalNews) This may be controversial. Since high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has been pointed out as a leading cause of fatty liver, obesity, and other bad health issues, many assume the same is true for consuming fruits.

Yes, fruits contain fructose. But that fructose is in much smaller quantities than HFCS. Dr. Mark Hyman refers to the massive amounts of HFCS in processed foods and beverages as pharmacological, or intensely condensed and isolated or extracted from it's food source. (Source below)

All the doctors sourced below agree that fructose in excess gets converted mostly to triglyceride fats instead of glucose for energy. Even table sugar (sucrose) gets converted to glucose more efficiently and without clogging up the liver.

The sudden surge in obesity and type-2 diabetes began with the introduction of HFCS into processed foods and beverages. Our livers don't convert pharmacological fructose doses into energy the way it can sucrose. Even IV pharmacological glucose can be beneficial under dire circumstances without damaging the liver.

Fruits in their natural solid forms contain much smaller amounts of fructose than processed HFCS. Their fructose is combined with other nutrients and fibers. So they are digested more slowly and can be assimilated without overdosing on fructose. This keeps the liver from being overwhelmed by a massive dose of fructose.

Making HFSC matters worse, almost all corn is GMO. And the process of converting corn that's already compromised with GMOs produces mercury. So you get a troublesome gene transfer virus with your mercury. If the massive fructose doesn't kill your liver, the GMO and mercury may finish the job.

Caveats: Eating the whole fruit is advised because juices, especially from concentrates, multiply the amount of fructose without the fiber that helps slow its digestion and keep your liver from being overwhelmed. Also, most fruits are exposed to toxic chemical interventions during cultivation and/or ripening.

Eat organic or locally grown fruits without excessive chemical interventions, or pick a fruit from the "clean fifteen" list (http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/).

With all that said, here are six edible fruits that will provide stable energy safely.

1. Apples are highly regarded for several reasons. They are hardy and don't spoil quickly unrefrigerated. They are higher in fiber than most other fruits as well, and they contain several other basic nutrients.Some nutritional experts point out that the energy from apples sticks around a little longer than most other fruits. Conventionally produced apples rank high in the "dirty dozen" list of sprayed produce. So stick with organic.
2. Bananas boost energy with a good amount of potassium, which is good for maintaining membrane potential, a stimulus response that enables muscles to contract. Very important for the heart. Organic is better, but not as vital as it is for apples. Bananas are in the "clean 15" list.
3. Strawberries provide an excellent energy boost too. But the most toxic pesticides are used on them. They have to be organic.
4. Pineapples made the "clean 15" list, and they can give you a good energy boost. Just try to purchase Mexican pineapples to avoid playing GMO roulette with Costa Rican and Hawaiian pineapples.  Not all Hawaiian and Costa Rican pineapples are GMO, but there are enough to contaminate non-GMO or organic pineapples.
5. Papaya can give you and energy boost and improve your digestion if you eat the seeds, but the same regional GMO advice for pineapples applies to papaya.
6. Oranges provide a lot of energy and vitamin C. Don't buy and consume juices, however, especially those generated from concentrates. It's best to eat the complete wedges from a freshly peeled orange.

Angelina Jolie Surgically Removes Breast to 'Prevent Cancer'!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger


How Angelina Jolie was duped by cancer doctors into self mutilation for breast cancer she never had

WTF was she thinking screwing up that gorgeous body? We don't see men chopping off their sacks! What's this war against women folks? Young beautiful ladies, mothers, grandmothers consider an anti-cancer lifestyle change, rather than mutilation!  "Will she also tell her children they should mutilate themselves, too, as a form of medical disease prevention? And what happens if she learns she has a risk of brain cancer? Does she chop off her head and call it a cure?". 

-From Cheryl Tyler, Infinity Health and Wellness Center Owner.

(NaturalNews) In a New York Times op-ed explaining her decision to have both of her breasts surgically removed even though she doesn't have breast cancer, Angelina Jolie cited risk numbers as key to her decision. She said that doctors told her she had an "87% risk of breast cancer." Her solution? Undergo three months of surgical procedures and have her breasts cut out.

Problem solved, right? With her breasts removed, she says her risk of breast cancer is now reduced to a mere 5 percent. The same bizarre logic can also be applied to men who cut off their testicles to "prevent testicular cancer" or people who cut out their colons to "prevent colorectal cancer." But that would be insane, so nobody does that, because one of the most basic principles of medicine is that you don't subject patients to the considerable risks and costs of surgery and anesthesia to remove organs that have no disease!

But the really sad part about all this is that Angelina Jolie was lied to. She didn't have an 87% risk of breast cancer in the first place. All the women reading her NYT op-ed piece are also being lied to. Here's why...

How cancer doctors lie with statistics and use fear to scare women into high-profit procedures

The very idea that breast cancer is a "percent risk" is a complete lie. In reality, everyone has cancer micro-tumors in their bodies, including myself. Cancer is not a disease you just "get" like being randomly struck by lightning. It's something you must "manage" or "prevent" day by day, meal by meal, through a lifestyle choice that involves vitamin D supplementation, nutrition, superfoods, vegetable juices and avoidance of cancer-causing chemicals and radiation.

So when a doctor says you have a "chance" of getting cancer, what he's implying is that you have no control over cancer, and that's an outright lie. Cancer quackery, in other words.

Even Jolie with her BRCA1 gene that's linked to breast cancer can quite easily follow a dietary and lifestyle plan that suppresses BRCA1 gene expression. It's not rocket science. It's not even difficult. It can be done with simple foods that cost a few dollars a day. Those foods include raw citrus, resveratrol (red grapes or red wine), raw cruciferous vegetables, omega-3 oils and much more. Those same foods also help prevent heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's and other chronic diseases.

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), by the way, a natural chemical found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, offers powerful prevention against BRCA1 gene expression. But you don't hear cancer doctors telling women to "eat more cabbage" because that doesn't make the cancer industry any money. You can buy I3C as a potent nutritional supplement from a variety of sources. It's literally cancer prevention in a capsule.

So the whole "chance" argument is pure quackery. There is no chance involved in whether you get cancer. It's all cause and effect. You are either living a pro-cancer lifestyle and therefore growing cancer, or you're living an anti-cancer lifestyle and keeping cancer in check so that it never becomes a problem. Cause and effect is what results in either the growth of cancer tumors or the prevention of cancer tumors. There is no "luck" involved.

It's fascinating, isn't it, that medical doctors don't believe in luck or voodoo on any topic other than cancer. But when it comes to cancer, they want all women to be suckered into the victim mentality that cancer is purely a matter of "luck" and therefore women have no control over their own health outcomes. How dis-empowering! How sick! How incredibly exploitive of women!

If you really want to be informed about breast cancer and the corrupt, dishonest cancer industry, read my related article 10 Facts about the Breast Cancer Industry You're Not Supposed to Know. Or listen to our upcoming FREE Cancer Solutions Summit broadcasting this coming Monday, May 20th.

Why doesn't the cancer industry empower women with a sense of control over their own health?

I find it astonishing that the cancer industry doesn't believe in cause and effect. They would rather scare women with "risk" statistics that imply people have no control over cancer. Empowering women with a sense of control over their own health is the last thing the cancer industry wants to do, because that would cause them to lose customers and lose money.

It's far more profitable to scare all women into a state of such irrational panic that they agree to the most insane things imaginable such as chopping off both their healthy breasts even though they have no cancer. Such women are then convinced they've literally saved their own lives by agreeing to be mutilated by cancer surgeons.

"My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent," says Jolie. "I can tell my children that they don't need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer."

Will she also tell her children they should mutilate themselves, too, as a form of medical disease prevention? And what happens if she learns she has a risk of brain cancer? Does she chop off her head and call it a cure?

The scam of making women believe there is only ONE way to reduce your "risk" of breast cancer

The other enormous scam in all this is the idea that there's only one way to reduce your "risk" of breast cancer. Even if you believe the fictitious number of "87% risk," why does everyone automatically assume there is one and only one way to lower that risk?

"For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options," writes Jolie in the NYT. Yet she utterly fails to offer women any options other than the one she took: check in to a cancer center and let them play "cut-poison-burn" on your body. Jolie's op-ed piece, which reads as if it were written by the public relations department of the Pink Lotus Breast Center, offers nothing in the way of nutrition advice, lifestyle choices, holistic therapies, wellness, alternative medicine... nothing! What an incredible disservice to all the women of America...

In the world of health, nutrition and cancer, there are thousands of ways to prevent cancer and suppress the expression of BRCA1 genes. But Jolie and the cancer industry seem to imply no options exist other than chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. Three options only. Nothing else exists in their world, not nutritional prevention, not vitamin D therapy, not vitamin C potentiated micro-chemotherapy, not ozone therapy, sauna treatments, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, stress reduction or anything else. You are supposed to believe that none of these things exist!

And why? Because the cancer industry wants to funnel women like cattle into their slash-poison-burn system of quack treatments. And Angelina Jolie is their new cheerleader. Scarred and no doubt experiencing the chest and armpit numbness that almost always accompanies mastectomy surgery, she now seeks to "inspire" other women to exercise their own sick "choice" and have their breasts removed, too!

It is the sickest invocation of women's power that I've ever witnessed. This is not empowering women, it's marching them into self-mutilation. And the "risk" is a complete fraud. In truth, Angelina Jolie had a higher risk of dying on the operating table than dying from breast cancer if she simply followed an anti-cancer lifestyle.

Don't be tricked into self-mutilation by cancer industry quacks

In summary:

• The claim that you have a "percent risk" of breast cancer is a big lie which implies you have no control over cancer.
• BRCA1 genes can be kept quiet (suppressed) through proper foods and lifestyle choices. A gene is not a death sentence.
• The implication that there is only ONE way to reduce breast cancer risk is a complete lie. There are thousands of options and strategies for preventing cancer. Never be cornered into surgery by a group of surgeons pushing irrational fear.
• Cancer micro-tumors exist in everyone. Cancer must be "managed" in everyone to keep it in check and avoid the growth of tumors.
• The cancer industry tricks women using unethical fear tactics to scare women with false statistics into high-profit cancer procedures that only cause them harm.
• The claim that cutting off healthy breasts somehow "empowers" women is sick and demented. Women are far more empowered by honest information on nutrition and healthy living that allows them to keep their bodies intact rather than being sliced up by dishonest cancer surgeons.

Kale "The Queen of Greens"

I actually really like this stuff :-)!!! Kale has a great simple flavor and texture and who knew it could be so positive for me!!!!!!

- From Blogger for Infinity Health and Wellness Center, Shantee.

How Healthy is Kale…Really?

It seems like everyone is going crazy for kale these days. It’s referred to as the “queen of greens” and is showing up in all kinds of restaurant menus as salads, side dishes, main dishes and even snack chips.

But is kale really that different, than, say spinach or broccoli?

Kale comes from the Brassica family, which includes cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. These veggies are rich in sulpher-containing, anti-cancer phytonutrients. They’re so healthy that many nutrition experts recommend people try to eat at least a few servings of Brassica veggies each week for their health benefits.

A serving (about 1 ½ cups chopped) of kale has about 50 calories and 9 grams of carbs. It has a tad bit more protein, 4 grams compared to spinach’s 3 grams, and it has one gram more of fiber to total 3 grams fiber per serving. But where kale really shines is in it’s micronutrients and phytonutrients.

A serving of kale also packs in nearly 500 mg potassium (more than a banana!) and is an excellent source of vitamin C, Vitamin K, the eye-protective antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, as well as betacarotene. Compared to spinach, kale is about equal nutritionally so the best bet is to enjoy both of them!  I personally find raw kale more bitter and tough than spinach, so I prefer spinach in my raw salads. But when it comes to wilted salads or cooked greens, I prefer the stronger texture of kale.

How to Buy It

To find the freshest kale, look for firm, deeply colored leaves with hardy stems. Smaller leaves will be more tender and milder in flavor.  Store , unwashed in an air-tight zipped plastic bag for up to five days in the refrigerator.

How to Use It

You want to minimize cooking time to retain kale’s nutrients, texture and flavor. Just, rinse, chip and add to stir-frys, frittatas and other egg dishes, soups, salads, pasta dishes or casseroles.  You can lightly steam it to make it more tender to enjoy in salads.

Bottom line on Kale

Eating more veggies is what’s important because 99% of US adults don’t eat enough veggie servings on any given day. If you like the taste and texture of kale, then eat more of it. If you don’t particularly like it, eat other leafy greens because they’ll be about the same nutritionally as kale.  For more anti-cancer protection, try to eat servings from the Brassica family at least 3 times a week.