Empowered selfcare, lifestyle strategies & coaching
The reality many of us face in the workplace Let’s face it. We’ve all experienced the less than ideal workplace setup. This is what I call a toxic work environment. From disjointed and inconsistent leadership messaging, micro-managing, and unrealistic goal setting to outright incompetence, we’ve …
All about that New Year resolution Nothing says New Year like a gym run, right? But knowing how unlikely that is right now, why not make your selfcare that much more powerful? By incorporating your weight goals with selfcare, you can seriously up your game! …
Y’all already know that I’m a bonafide skincare freak so of course, I have to be on the lookout for awesome ingredients to use in my creations. I don’t apologize for loving skincare because that’s part of my self-care routine. As I get older, I’m learning to be even more mindful of what my body needs especially when it comes to the largest organ of my body! So yeah, it’s important especially when I want to make sure I’m not using toxic creams and brands on my face! This flaxseed and cornstarch mask hits some major skincare concerns for me. This flaxseed and cornstarch face mask is anti-aging, balances, and soothes all in one go.
Over the years I’ve spent a lot of money on expensive luxury and department store brands. Like a lot of women, I ended up being mostly, underwhelmed. Short of major plastic surgery, most don’t have any more dramatic results than cheaper store brands or homemade skincare. Granted, some of these luxury brands have good results, but you can also DIY a lot of great all-natural treatments and moisturizers in your own kitchen. My flaxseed and cornstarch face mask is just one example. If you’ve read any of my other skincare posts (and on other lifestyle blogs too), you’ll find easy and effective recipes that work too!
My mom used to say “ your makeup is only as good as the skin it sits on” and that’s the truth y’all! It doesn’t matter how many breakthroughs we make in makeup r &,d. The truth is, healthy skin is a major factor in a flawless look. That being said, who doesn’t want beautiful healthy skin? That doesn’t need any makeup at all?
Even as the years go by, I strive to support and enhance the health and beautiful my skin. I do this through both diet and my skincare routines. This DIY flaxseed and cornstarch face mask include some of my secret ( no longer secret now, lol) ingredients. As always, consult your healthcare provider if you have any allergies or sensitivities before applying any of these recipes.
They are high in omega-3, fatty acids, a great source of lignans ( a type of photochemical)which may help in fighting breast cancer risks, high in Dietary Fiber, lower bad cholesterol, a good source of high-quality plant protein, may reduce blood pressure, and packed with antioxidants. Not only that, but it may also help you meet those weight-loss goals as well!
Aloe vera has been used for centuries in cooking as well as in herbal remedies. If you don’t know aloe vera gel comes from the leaves of the aloe plant. It’s been used as a herbal remedy for constipation, IBS, and lowering blood sugar and cholesterol. These are just a few of the many health benefits of aloe vera gel!
While cornstarch is often used as a thickening agent, there’s no real benefit to ingesting it. This is actually one of those things you want to limit, substitute with something else or just toss out of your pantry!
Skincare (topical) benefits
The omega-3 fatty acids (aka, alpha-linolenic acid) in flaxseeds help to smooth, hydrate, and moisturize the skin. While the lignans help reconstruct broken vessels and skin cells. Omega-3 fatty acids also contain antioxidants that protect and shield the skin from damaging free radicals and UV rays, score! Did I mention the fact that they’re also anti-inflammatory? Score!!
Aloe has been used for skin conditions like burns, dandruff, etc for centuries. Nowadays it’s popular in both skincare and beauty treatments because of its numerous skin benefits. It’s great for treating dandruff, acne, eczema, and sunburn. It also helps to even out the complexion and moisturizes without being oily. Because it’s rich in vitamin E, it helps restore moisture to the skin.
When applied topically, it soothes skin irritation, like rashes, sunburn, and itching. It also has a gentle exfoliating effect and helps remove excess oil from the skin. Cornstarch soothes redness.
Widely used since ancient times for its valuable healing benefits, rosehip oil is rich in skin-nourishing vitamins and essential fatty acids. Also, this essential oil contains phenols that have been shown to have antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties.
Use a small glass bowl (use it only for DIY skincare stuff!) and pour your dry ingredients into it first. Next, add the aloe vera gel, essential oils plus, the tablespoon of chamomile water. Then, gently mix everything together until the mixture is smooth and apply to clean skin. If any remains, simply store in an airtight glass container, place in the fridge, and store no longer than 24-48 hours.
Did you check out my other DIY face mask recipes? My avocado moisture-rich face mask is just one of my favorite recipes guaranteed to lush up your skin! Also, read this article on why women have such a hard time with self-care to help you stop the self-sabotage in 2021!
Tonye Tariah is a Holistic health strategist, Coach, and the founder of Freedom at The Crossroads Blog. Tonye helps free women from inaction and unhealthy habits so they can get fit, healthy, and live free. Her belief is that “the cookie-cutter method only works for cookies”. Meaning, she helps each woman in a way that is unique to each her situation. By doing this, she’s better able to help women transform their lives from the inside out. Her ultimate goal is to help women become healthy and empowered through the transformative self-care journey!
The perfect dish for the season Cold winter days make me think of cozy fires, a stack of my favorite books in my favorite nook, and the yummy goodness of a rich and savory soup. This vegan broccoli cheddar soup has quickly become a favorite …
A hair-strengthening moisturizing spray infused with anti-oxidant-rich essential oils Everyone knows winter can be brutal on your natural locs and that’s even more true for 4C natural hair. When I first moved to the Midwest (I’m in Illinois, USA), the tole that winter takes on …
I’m all about getting ready for the fall and winter seasons and that also means up-ing my self-care game. If ever there was a year to really commit to self-care and optimizing our wellness, this is the time to do it and that means pulling out my 3 herbal teas you need to beat the flu this season!
Also, since I’m someone who hates getting sick and having to take medicine, I’ve really been diving into traditional herbal remedies, etc. That’s not to say that I don’t use conventional medicine. I do. It’s simply my personal belief and experience, that conventional medicine is better for acute conditions. Plus, I believe it’s better to support the body’s natural systems rather than throw synthetic chemicals into a natural system.
It worked for my ancestors, and I’ve since learned and agree, that it’s better for my own health and wellness. I’m a firm believer that the cure for any condition should never be worse than the actual sickness itself. Having said that, when in doubt seek advice fr your medical doctor, a certified naturopathic doctor, trained healthcare professional, etc.
Almost every culture has its own version of herbal teas, tinctures, and infusion. So it comes as no surprise that in this day and age, we’re all bringing in out these old tried and true recipes.
As a matter of fact, the more we learn and share from one another the better. Even now, I’ve got new twists on old recipes and created some new ones too.
Every year I add new favorites to my list of tea must-haves for throughout the year. But these are 3 herbal tea blends you need to beat the flu season for sure! Just an FYI, this post does include affiliate links from which I receive a small percentage at no cost to you!
Star anise:
The oil produced by star anise contains thymol, terpineol, and anethole, which is used for treating cough and flu. Anise also helps improve digestion, alleviate cramps, and good for reducing nausea. Consuming star anise tea after meals helps treat digestive ailments such as bloating, gas, indigestion, and constipation
Black peppercorn:
This spice has anti-inflammatory properties as well. It also improves circulation and reduces pain and swelling of joints in between the fingers. Plus, it helps fight diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
Chamomile:
This is one of my favorites ingredients and is included in the 3 herbal teas you need to beat the flu and cold because of its soothing effects. Chamomile promotes sleep, soothes stomach aches, reduces stress, period pains, helps with anxiety, and is also anti-inflammatory. Its benefits are too many to list here alone, but you’ll definitely want to keep this one handy!
Mint:
Mint eases digestion, is antiviral and antibacterial. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps with mucous build-up.
Echinacea:
Widely known for its many health benefits, echinacea reduces inflammation, improves immunity, and lower blood sugar levels. Also, it’s used as a natural pain reducer, helps with digestion as well as skin-boosting benefits too!
Elderberry:
Many people believe elderberries to be one of the most potent natural plants for fighting cold and flu viruses. Not only that, they are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, boosts, fights infection, and supports the immune system. You can read more about the power of elderberries in my earlier recipe post here!
Turmeric:
This root is an anti-inflammatory, is a potent antioxidant, and supports joint health.
Ginger:
Great for immune boosting, ginger is also an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, improves digestion, and supports cardio health.
Raw honey:
Raw honey has many health benefits including anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties as well as rich in anti-oxidants. Honey is also excellent for soothing sore throats and digestive issues.
Srilankan cinnamon:
Also known as Ceylon cinnamon, this spice is also anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. It’s also a great antioxidant with cancer-fighting properties too!
Allspice:
Another favorite of mine, allspice helps relieve gas, bloating, and stomach upset. Did I also mention, it too has anti-inflammatory benefits?
All your ingredients
On a quick note, I only use organic and naturally sourced ingredients in my tea because I always want to make sure that I’m not using anything that has pesticides or is contaminated. Having said that, some of my sources are available on amazon.com and you can just click on those links or source the ingredients yourself! As always, don’t forget to consult your healthcare provider before using any of these ingredients as some may cause drug interactions, allergies, etc for some individuals!
Since these are herbal teas, they are caffeine-free and can be taken throughout the day. Also, these ingredients need to be steeped in hot water since these ingredients are the more delicate parts of their parent plants. These include the leaves, berries, flowers, and seeds used in all three recipes.
To make your tea blends, combine all the ingredients, pour hot water over all the ingredients in a large glass cup (or kettle), steep (aka, infuse) for 30-45 minutes. This will maximize the extraction of all those flu and cold-fighting properties! When you’re ready to drink your tea, simply add your honey and or lemon to taste. You can also drink these cold or hot after your infusion time is complete and each recipe creates enough for at least two cups. Enjoy!
This the perfect time to start preparing for the cold and flu season but there’s also no need to panic if you’ve taken the time to add some home remedies to your medicine cabinet. Add that to your self-care and fitness strategies (read the post right here) and you’ve got the recipe for a healthy you this season!
Also, take the opportunity to get more support for your fitness and self-care journey with one of my transformational programs right here! Need to take baby steps? Start here!
Tonye Barango-Tariah is a Holistic Health Strategist and founder of Freedom at The Crossroads Blog. She helps free women from inaction and unhealthy habits so they can get fit, healthy, and live free. Her belief is that “the cookie-cutter method only works for cookies”. This means that she helps each woman in a way that is unique to each woman. By doing this, she’s better able to help them transform their lives from the inside out. Her ultimate goal is to help women become healthy and empowered through the transformative self-care journey!
Staying fit and healthy through the holiday season We all know how busy the holiday season can get especially when you’ve got multiple tasks to juggle. Let’s not even talk about trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle! This is why I’ve pulled together 5 women’s …
Why a spiced elderberry and echinacea tincture? With everything that’s happening today (i.e. global pandemic), this certainly isn’t the time to neglect your health. That’s why I’m pulling out my spiced elderberry and echinacea tincture today! Fall and winter are usually the seasons when we …
Quick and easy dried fruit snacks scream holiday to me! These recipes are perfect for this time of year and with the fall and winter seasons just around the corner, I’m all for switching things up with a combination of spices and fruits to create yummy seasonal snacks and treats.
Homemade quick and easy dried fruit snacks are a good alternative to junk food and prepackaged stuff from the grocery store. Not only is it healthier, but it’s also got none of the additives and mystery ingredients that you typically find in conventional store-bought snacks and treats.
While I’d love to say that every fruit makes for a delicious dried goody, that’s really not the case here. For the most part, you want to use produce that still keeps it’s integrity even when you dry them. Bananas, fresh apples, berries, apricots, etc make some of the best quick and easy dried fruit snacks.
This is really a no-brainer! Select ripe fruits and berries because they usually have a nice level of sugar content. Avoid fruits and veggies that have very high water content and are mushy. Next, wash your produce in cold water being careful to remove any blemishes. Next, extract any pits or stones from stone fruits like peaches and nectarines. Finally, you want to remove any stems from your berries and then cut and slice fruits evenly so that they will dry uniformly.
For your vegetables, they first need to be blanched. I prefer the method steam blanching method because you lose fewer nutrients. Bring water to a boil in a large pot with a tight-fitting lid. Remember, you’ll need the colander/ wire basket too. Loosely place your veggies in the pot’s steamer basket (water should be no more than 2 inches deep). The rule of thumb is to time your blanching to roughly half the cooking time as you would normally use.
Once they’re done, quickly remove them from the heat and give them a quick cold water bath (or briefly run under cold water), pat dry, and place on a parchment sheet.
While a food dehydrator is one of the best methods to use (much faster ), your home oven can still get the time done and it’s way cheaper! To maintain the natural color of your snacks you can either soak them in lemon juice for ten mins or pray them with a mixture of ascorbic acid powder and water (vitamin C).
Before you start the drying process, set your oven between 130-160℉ and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Next spread out your slices in a single layer and rotate in the oven every two hours until dry. You’ll know they’re dry when they become a little leathery and are nice and flexible.
The drying time for most of these ranges anywhere from 6-12 hours! Peaches, bananas, and apples need about six hours to dry while most berries range from 8-12 hours (i.e. cherries need 6-8 and strawberries to need 12 hours). All you need is a little bit of patience and you’ll have delicious, healthy snacks at the end of the process.
A note on food preservation
These quick and easy dried fruit snacks are also a great way to reduce food waste as well as preserve seasonal fruits and veggies. It’s also good for the wallet too! You not only save money but, you’re still eating healthy too. These snacks might be dried, but they are also packed with nutrients. For ideas on this and how it can help you really stretch your grocery budget, read Quick and Easy Food Storage Tips.
Tonye Tariah, Holistic Health Strategist and founder of Freedom at The Crossroads Blog. She helps free women from inaction and unhealthy habits so they can get fit, healthy, and live free. Her belief is that “the cookie-cutter method only works for cookies”. This means that she helps each woman in a way that is unique to each woman. By doing this, she’s better able to help them transform their lives from the inside out. Her ultimate goal is to help women become healthy and empowered through the transformative self-care journey!
Staying healthy right now is even more important right now These uncertain times make it even more important that we become more sustainable and environmentally conscious. Fresh produce storage is one way we can really lessen the impact on our wallets and eat healthily! We …
