HAIR FOOD: GREEK YOGURT

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What you eat influences how you look in more ways than one. The nutrients you take in go toward maintaining and producing body tissue like hair. Protein is a major player because, without it, your body doesn’t have all the nutrients it needs for you be your best self.

A former coworker of mine suggested I try Greek yogurt because of the high protein it contains.  At first try, I was like YUCK!  The consistency of it was a complete turn off.  It was way too thick for my taste.  So instead of being completely turned off, I decided to leave it out of the fridge for a while before I ate it.  YUMMO!!  It definitely worked for me. It was a lot creamier and since I like the kind with the fruit on the bottom, it was a lot easier for me to mix together. 

Another great way to get our protein on!

And for those mixtresses out there, check out the Creamy Greek Goddess Conditioner here or this video:

Definitely check out these recipes too, because it's not just for breakfast!!

ENJOY!!!

WORKOUT HAIR ~ MY RENDITION

Remember this?  Well I decided to try it out with twists instead of braids and I loved it!  It held up great during my runs - not to mention it created the BOMB.COM twistout.  I had to modify it to fit my length since my twists are not as long as hers, but it all worked out.  I will definitely be rocking this again this summer just for kicks.

Here's my rendition:

Side:

Other side:

All pinned up (in no particular order):

The back:

Ready to go:

What do ya think?

WORKOUT HAIR

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Hey ladies! Need a style that compliments your workout schedule? Me too! Embarking on my 5k journey leaves absolutely NO hair time during the week. And because I'm sweating like there's no tomorrow, I need styles that will last and minimize or hide my poofy roots. I've been rocking a chunky twistout, which I love and hides my poofy roots well, but now I want a 'Style.'

I found this one by YTer BeautifulBrwnBabyDol and I'm trying it today! It seems relatively easy once you get past the braiding, but we'll see.

For all my ladies bring their sexy back or maintaining it, how do you rock your hair when working out?

HAIR FOOD: BEANS

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Beans, beans, they're good for your ... hair? YES, it is absolutely true! Legumes like kidney beans and lentils should be an important part of your hair-care diet because not only do they provide plentiful protein to promote hair growth, but ample iron, zinc, and biotin - which we know is important for beautifully strong hair as well.

I'm always on the hunt for new recipes and my coworker brought in Moujadara (Lentils and Rice), it was super tasty BTW, and I got to thinking to myself 'Beans are really good protein right? Hair is protein, so I wonder what beans are best for my hair?' Now I mostly eat beans with rice (and cornbread, lolol), so naturally I started wondering if rice affects hair as well...and you guessed it, it does!

Here's a compliation of beans/rice effects:

* Silica and Selenium - found in rice - keeps skin and scalp supple and elastic, adds shine, strengthens hair, and prevents hair loss

* Potassium - found in brown rice, black-eyed peas, and red beans - regulates circulation and promotes healthy hair growth

* Magnesium - found in red and black beans, black-eyed peas, and brown rice - works with calcium to promote healthy hair growth

* Manganese - found in brown and white rice, red and pinto beans, and black-eyed peas - prevents slow hair growth

* Iron and Folate - found in red, black, and pinto beans and black-eyed peas - strengthens hair, prevents hair loss and promotes hair growth

So there you have it, the dish on beans. The ADA, recommends 3 cups of lentils or beans every week, so get to cooking!

Do you have any good legume recipes you want to share?? I'm always open ;)

STRESSED TODAY, BALD TOMORROW

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As I embark on this GRUELING 60-hr graveyard shift work week, I find myself already getting pretty short-tempered. I am already stressed out and I haven't even gotten into the thick of it...just the mere thought of it pisses me off. Anyway, I am concerned about how the impending stress levels will affect my hair. I know when people, women in particular, start having major life issues, the first thing that seems to go is their hair.

Why is this??

Well basically when our bodies experience extreme emotional or physical stress the immune system shuts down. Major systems are ignored, hair included, as the body pumps blood to the major muscles preparing it for the fight. The body seems to concentrate its energies on recovery or healing and hair growth seems rather less of a priority. The hair then undergoes the fall out phase. Another factor is hormones. Hormones can change your attitude, mood, skin and your hair. If an imbalance occurs, the stress from it can damage the hair, kind of like a vitamin deficiency.

So what can we do to prevent stress from damaging our beautiful crowns of glory??

One thing is for sure and we need lower our stress levels. Balancing our daily routines can help the health of our hair. Adding some type of activity that YOU enjoy and creates that calm environment is key. When you can rest and conduct your life with less stress, not only will you feel good but your hair will too!!

I have a goal I'm trying to reach and stress is definitely not going to help that out. I just need to bite the bullet and RELAX, RELATE, RELEASE, lolol. Maybe I'll try yoga.

How do you handle your hair in a time of stress?

HAIR FOOD: SALMON

MMMMMM... Salmon... loaded with omega-3 fatty acids - which are not only key in promoting a healthy scalp, but also help protects against heart disease and promotes healthy skin and joints.

Salmon is most definitely one of the healthiest things to eat, so it should be no surprise that it contains vitamins and minerals which encourage hair growth. Along with protein and fish oil, two of the most important foods for hair, salmon is also rich in Selenium, which strengthens the hair strands. The fats in salmon work to prevent dry, brittle hair. *SIGNMEUP*

The American Heart Association's (AHA) dietary guidelines recommend that adults eat at least two servings of fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids per week, so here's the recipe to one of my favorite dishes to cook, Honey Ginger Salmon.

Vegetarian? Include one or two tablespoons of ground flaxseed in your daily diet for some plant-based omega-3 fats.

Enjoy!!

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

Sometimes I truly wonder how what I put in my body affects my hair. I used to take vitamin supplements that contained Biotin because my hair was really fragile (from all those relaxers and heat I suspect) and I wanted my hair to be stronger. I will say I found them to work quite efficiently, but anyone who knows me knows that I don't do well with pills, so what other options do I have?? I did some digging and found this nifty little guide, not sure how accurate it is, but I think it's a start.

Vitamin A - Promotes normal growth, healthy teeth, nails, hair, bones, glands. Essential for night vision. Found in fish liver oils, dairy products, liver, dark green/yellow vegetables, pumpkin.

Vitamin B-1 (Thiamin) - It is essential for healthy growth of hair, skin, muscles, brain and nervous system. Is useful in times of stress and have also been used to treat fatigue, irritability, and depression. Found in green vegetables, corn , potatoes, oats, rice plums, raisins, nuts, yeast, ham.

Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin) - Prevents dandruff and helps with the absorption of iron. Found in liver, cheese, milk, eggs, avocados, green/yellow vegetables, grains, nuts.

Vitamin B-3 (Niacin) - Produces blood flow to the follicle to produce hair growth. Found in lean meats, liver, poultry, fish, cheese nuts, prunes, potatoes.

Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic Acid) - Produces hair growth and stimulation of new growth. Found in beef, chicken, liver, eggs, salmon, clams, royal jelly, rice, avocados, grains, nuts.

Vitamin B-12 (Cyanocobalimin) - Stimulates hair growth. Found in beef, liver, egg yolks, crab, clams, sardines, salmon, oysters, herring.

Biotin Vitamin H (Biotin) - Thickens the hair strand. Found in peanut butter mushrooms brown rice, bulgur, oats, beef liver, royal jelly, nuts, egg yolks, chicken, soybeans, sardines, yeast, milk.

Folic Acid (Part of B-Complex) - Cell renewal to grow hair. Found in liver, grains, nuts, yeast, dates, oranges, green leafy vegetables, brown rice.

Adjust your diets accordingly! Hope this helps you on your journey to healthy Natural Hair!!

WATER = HEALTHY HAIR

Once upon a time I hadn't been drinking enough water, I was drinking pop, apple juice, cran-apple juice, everything BUT... I went to get my hair pressed and.....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ that's the sound of my hair frying under the heat for lack of moisture. (and it was LOUD) My hair was BONE DRY!! I mean I was so embarrassed. My stylist jumped back and said "I see SOMEONE hasn't been drinking enough water." What could I say?? She was totally right. I made it a point right then and there to increase my water intake to avoid future embarrassment.

Ever since we were little it's been embedded in our juvie minds "Milk does a body good." Well, what about our hair? Isn't hair just an extension of our bodies? I think so (though some may beg to differ) so we gotta keep our hair, nails, and other extremeties together too, RIGHT? RIGHT!

Our bodies are mostly made up of water, so we MUST give the body what it needs to survive. Your hair gets dehydrated just like your body, so the solution = DRINK WATER! Even if you have to add those little Crystal Light sweeteners to add flavor, you have to drink it. Remember, 8 glasses of 8 ounces (or more) of water per day. SO DRINK UP!!!

I'm holding steady at 40+, how are you doing?