Madame Noire | Black Women's Lifestyle Guide | Black Hair | Black Love

These days we are flooded with the latest and greatest diet trick, weight-loss measure or life-changing vitamin.  Let’s get real; most of us don’t have the time or money to indulge in every new fad.  How about we take a look at an easy way we can take care of our health today and everyday from here on out. Water. Check out these eight ways that water proves to be not only important for your health, but also necessary for weight loss and overall well-being.

About “Keeping Families Healthy”

Temperatures are dropping, school is in full swing and the holidays are the corner. This can only mean one thing: cold and flu season is here. In this episode, you’ll learn some ways to help keep your family healthy and in order.

Episode Links & Resources

• LINK: Tips to Stay organized
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If you haven’t heard by now, not only do pretty girls rock, but pretty girls also sweat!

Sponsored by the popular organization T.E.E.N. Diaries, and The Society of Girls, Inc., on September 24, Project Butterfly touched down in NYC. Manhattan to be specific. Teenagers and young adults sported T-shirts that said “Pretty Girls Sweat” and showed that they do by busting out their best double dutch, jumping rope in place and participating in a lot more heart-pumping activities. The event was hosted by R&B singer Keri Hilson, a former basketball and swim star.

When she arrived, Ms. Keri Baby rocked her Nikes, the same “Pretty Girls Sweat” shirt everyone else was wearing, and a Nike hat to keep her hair from sweating out (we hear that!). She was ready to blend in with the nearly 100 young girls in the venue, and to help motivate them.

“A lot of girls you’ll notice, in life, they shy away from adversity. First yield sign they see, they don’t push through it, they kind of back away. Now a boy grows up and sees a red light and will run right through it. Guys have a certain drive and competitive spirit within. I think it’s important to show young girls that ‘Hey, you can do that too.’”

Known for its work to help minority girls make a smooth transition into adulthood, organizer T.E.E.N. Diaries was influenced by Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign. CEO Aeshia DeVore Branch says events like Project Butterfly are both important and necessary for young women because they can help take the stigma out of exercising and incorporate fun, sweat-inducing activities into girl’s lifestyles.”We want to teach them that they can find multiple ways to have fun and be fit. So that’s what they walk away today with saying, ‘You know what, I can jump rope and I can dance even if it’s not typically exercise, and I can listen to my favorite music and burn calories.’”

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” — Dr. Seuss

I believe that the key to happiness is being your most authentic self and not caring what other people think. Some may agree, some may disagree. But that’s what I believe.

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Marijuana, or cannabis, has been used by humans for thousands of years. And recently, there’s been a ton of controversy regarding the use of medical marijuana and marijuana in general. I’m sure we all know someone else *cough* who has used marijuana. By the general population’s standards, marijuana use is not seen as a very serious issue or offense. And many physicians have even lobbied for the recreational use of marijuana to treat many medical conditions.

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Remember the nursery rhyme “Old McDonald Had a Farm?” We’d sing how Old McDonald had a farm with pigs that go “oink” and cows that go “moo.” Well now it seems like the nursery rhyme needs some updating. Looks like Old McDonald has added some genetically engineered sugar beets and super-fast-growing salmon to his farm. And he’s even traded in his overalls and weed wacker for a white lab coat and chemistry set.

Today we have genetically modified (GM) foods and genetically modified organisms (GMO). There are tons of GM foods including: flour, soy, milk, canola oil, and aspartame (a sweetener).  And the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture)- government agency that regulates what’s grown on farms- recently approved the use of three new kinds of genetically engineered foods: alfalfa, a type of corn to make ethanol, and sugar beets. They also approved a super-fast-growing salmon- which will be the first (and most likely not the last) genetically modified animal to be sold in the U.S.

Though they’re mass marketed, the use of genetically modified food is a subject of enormous controversy. Many have been very leery of GM foods- mainly because the effects of these foods haven’t been studied long term. And some physicians and scientists argue that GM foods may be contributing to the rise of autism, obesity, diabetes, asthma, cancer, heart disease, allergies, reproductive problems, and many other common health problems plaguing Americans. To many people, GMO is just another way of saying “God Move Over.” And their fear of GM foods is based in this line of reasoning: How often do things turn out well when you mess with God’s work?

Back in 2009, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) stated that GM foods pose serious health risks and called on “physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM foods when possible and provide educational materials concerning GM foods and health risks.” They also called for labeling of GM foods in stores. But it looks like the USDA and the FDA aren’t trying to hear it.

Sexual abuse is a taboo subject in black families and in the black community at large. In surveys of adults, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men report that they were sexually abused as a child. And in 90 percent of cases, the perpetrator was a family member or someone that the victim knew.

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I love food!! And there’s the old saying- “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  So if you love food as much as I do and you’re concerned about preventing some of the most common cancers in black women, why not kill two birds with one stone? Certain foods may help to prevent many common types of cancer in black women- like breast cancer, colon cancer, and even ovarian cancer. For many of us who’ve made New Year’s resolutions to lose weight by eating less, here’s a great reason to eat more! Here’s my recommendation – make sure you enjoy these yummy fruits, vegetables, teas, spices, and sweets to help protect you from some of the most common cancers in black women.  Here are 10 yummy cancer-fighting foods!

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For many women, the start of a new year is a time for focusing on physical health. As a result, many of our New Year’s Resolutions revolve around losing weight, eating healthy, and exercising. While these are all positive resolutions, achieving optimal health involves a balance. Black women face many stresses in our lives that can adversely affect our physical and mental health. Thus, the beginning of a new year should also be a time to reflect and focus on our emotional and spiritual health. Are you having trouble dealing with stress? Are you the person you want to be?  Are your relationships what you’d like them to be? This year, focus on keeping resolutions that will help you achieve optimal health in 2011. While it’s great that you’ve decided to lose those extra 10 pounds, or eat more vegetables, make sure you don’t neglect your mental and spiritual health. Here are a few things that every black woman should do for her health in 2011.

You’ve recently started dating someone (or you’ve been dating someone) and you’re both basking in the glow of your relationship. You take long walks on the beach, have wonderful conversations about what your children will look like, finish each other’s sentences, and stare into each other’s eyes for hours on end. You think, “This guy/girl is great!” Then one day, you’re chilling over your significant other’s home and you notice that they happen to log out of Facebook. You let them know you also have a profile on the fabulous social networking site.  Then someone nonchalantly says, “Why don’t you add me as a friend?”

Now this scenario can go one of several ways. And in an age where people willingly put all their business out there for public consumption, criticism, and critique, I‘d advise first setting up ground rules before adding your love interest as a Facebook friend. It could be the difference between relationship bliss or continual headaches.

At the end of the day, whether it’s Facebook or real life, romantic relationships should be solidly built on open and honest communication. So here are some suggestions on how to fully enjoy the experience of Facebook, without jeopardizing your relationship.