Nubian Doc

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! 👿

Halloween has its roots in the ancient, pre-Christian Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated from sundown October 31st through November 1st. The Celts believed that the dead returned to earth on Samhain, and on that sacred night, people gathered to light bonfires, offer sacrifices and pay homage to the dead.

With a growing movement towards health and wellness, people are opting for “organic”, “vegan” and “natural” haircare products. The traditional harsh chemicals used in commercial hair products not only dry out hair in the long run, but also contaminate water systems and potentially impact humans and wildlife. Chemical haircare products may also contain parabens, phalates, sulfates, dimethicone and added fragrances, making them potentially irritative to skin. Natural products may decrease that probability but can still potentially cause allergic reactions. Here are a few benefits and drawbacks of using organic or natural haircare products:

Vegan meals, as we know them, may not be for everyone but leaning more towards a plant-based diet may be the impetus to moving away from less healthy options. Opting for recipes near and close to our hearts that still represent the love of food and traditional American Cuisine is the goal to reaching optimal health! Here are some potential benefits:

We've been loving our edges on and off since the 1920s when the iconic Josephine Baker sported her sleek mane. Slicked edges have been a way to add that extra "something" to a regular braid or updo style. With that said, even though soft baby hair waves add that extra sparkle, they are oftentimes the most fragile and under-tension part of our hair requiring more care and almost just as much attention as the ends of our hair, which is the oldest and most exposed to daily wear and friction. Our edges can even be quite a struggle to grow back after trauma. Here are some things to consider if your edges are damaged.

More than 10 million American women and men over 50 have osteoporosis (severely low bone density). Another 44 million have its precursor, osteopenia (low bone mass). Risk factors for osteoporosis include aging, being female, low body weight, low s*x hormones, menopause, chronic smoking, sedentary lifestyle and excessive alcohol use. Severely weakened bone structure is more at risk for fractures after falling or other everyday activities. It's broken bones of the spine or pelvis that are the most debilitating and potentially fatal. When we exercise, we don’t just build muscle and endurance but also maintain the thickness of our bones. Some great ways to prevent the early onset of osteoporosis are exercises that involve weight-bearing, resistance, and flexibility-such as Pilates which focuses on these measures while improving posture and balance. Take a look.

Primarily used for food preservation, parabens prevent mold, yeast, and bacterial growth in the food we eat today, particularly processed and canned foods. Used in a wide variety of food and beverages, exposure at current levels may not be a health concern at the moment. No studies have shown a potential role of parabens in increased risk of breast cancer. Here are the advantages and potential concerns:

Protein shakes have been in the market since the 60's and were first promoted among bodybuilders. Within the last few decades they contributed to a supplement industry that in 2016 was over $100 billion. They are currently promoted to reduce appetite and aid with weight loss, however relying completely on protein supplements instead of meals has faults, as you can miss out on essential nutrients from whole foods. Unless you’re a bodybuilder, an intensive athlete or require extra protein due to an illness, they may not be required. While protein shakes may help you shed some pounds, be careful with extra calories and sugar. To make sure you’re getting the right amount of protein, be aware that the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein by the FDA is ~50 grams of protein/day for most adults. Here's a few pros and cons of including protein supplements in your diet.

No one wants to deal with body odor that affects their self-esteem and interactions with others. Body odor is typically produced when sweat comes in contact with the bacteria on our skin. Sweat doesn’t smell and is composed largely of water (99%), and to a smaller amount salts, ammonia, urea, fats, and other substances. Once apocrine glands in the arm pits, scalp and groin area produce sweat, bacteria will eat and produce odor-causing compounds. Here are a few ways to control, prevent and treat a fairly common issue.

Belly fat may have many causes including but not limited to stress, changes in metabolism, lack of exercise, and unhealthy eating habits. The best means of controlling our waistline include a combination of mindful steps. All can be considered part of our best defense at reducing our risk for heart disease, diabetes, alzheimer's and certain cancers. Share this information with a friend.

It's midway into September and new cases of monkeypox appear to be on the decline but we still have to respond by continuing to track cases and spread awareness. Back in the earlier part of the summer the CDC estimated that it took eight days for cases to double nationwide. If the outbreak continues many could still be at risk without appropriate awareness and preventative measures. If you have any concern that you are infected, need testing or vaccination options contact 211. Share this information.

Whether it's couples experiencing problems, lack of motivation, mitigating career stressors, or day-to-day life hurdles, therapy or self-help resources can provide some guidance and may be considered a tool for managing personal issues. Whatever we choose depends on personal preference, cultural/religious beliefs and other factors. Here are a few pros and cons to both if you're considering utilizing these helpful alternatives. Also, they need not be exclusive and can be combined.