Beauty, girl talk, Lifestyle, Motherhood, Parenting, Wellness, women

Turmeric – Why Your Body Needs It (and How to Use It)!

November 15, 2017

What is turmeric and why is it so talked about these days? Turmeric benefits are comprehensive, and most are due to its active compound, curcumin. For the last 2 years, I have probably missed a handful of days where I have not consumed turmeric. Let me tell you, it is probably the best thing I have done to my diet (Never going back!).

There are seriously so many benefits of Turmeric and I would need multiple blog posts to go through them all. Here the benefits that are most important to me! Side note: Black pepper contains piperine, which has been shown to help our bodies absorb the turmeric by 2000%. Try to use black pepper with any turmeric consumption!

Turmeric goes beyond the kitchen! — Spices that go beyond the kitchen!

ANTIOXIDANTS and IMMUNITY

Curcumin is a power antioxidant. We always hear about berries having a significant number of antioxidants and how important it is for our bodies. Antioxidants can fight molecules known as free radicals, which negatively affect cell health, and may reduce or help prevent some of the damage they cause.

Winter Immunity Shot:

Juice fresh turmeric, lemon, ginger, and gooseberries. Add a teaspoon of wheatgrass powder. Every morning through the winter months to keep the viruses away!

Easy smoothie recipe:

Blend 1 cup of coconut milk with 1/2 cup frozen pineapple, the juice of one lemon and/or one orange, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, a tiny pinch of black pepper, and about a teaspoon of grated fresh ginger root. I don’t add any sweeteners but if you need it you can use agave nectar or stevia.

Being mindful of what goes into your body can go a long way, it can even help you have healthier hair.

SKIN BENEFITS

MY FAVORITE BENEFIT (Obviously.) Research suggests turmeric’s anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties make turmeric effective in treating skin conditions. It can help speed wound healing, calm the pores, and help control psoriasis flares.

Turmeric - Natural Face Mask — Natural Face Mask

My weekly Turmeric Face Mask Recipe:

Mix 2 tablespoons of unsweetened yogurt (I use homemade yogurt) with 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric and 1 teaspoon of honey for a soothing and cooling face mask. I leave it on for about 5 minutes and wash off. (I’ve never had problems with it staining skin, but use an old towel just in case.)

Acne Spot Treatment:

I make a paste of honey and turmeric (2 parts honey to 1 part turmeric) and dab on to spot treat.

BRAIN

This benefit is important to me for my toddler! Curcumin has been shown to have positive effects on brain function and memory by increasing levels of the brain hormone that boosts neuron growth (and fights decay in old folks).

Ever since my toddler has been on whole milk I have added a pinch of turmeric to her milk servings every day. She is 2 and still drinks her milk with a pinch of turmeric! You can also give it to them in a smoothie!

TEETH WHITENING:

I have not tried this yet, but it is next on my list! We are all busy and sometimes it’s hard to get around to doing some of these things that are beneficial for our bodies. To make life easy: There are Turmeric Supplements (which also include the black pepper) that you can take daily!

Let me know what works for you, comment below!

Love,

Neema

Beauty, friends, girl talk, Health, Life, Lifestyle, Motherhood, Wellness, women

Botox and the Indian Community

October 18, 2017

Botox, everyone has thought about it, many of us are doing it, so why aren’t we talking about it?

Growing up as first generation Indian Americans, my sister and I had the impossible task of representing our Indian side, our American side, and our hybrid side with grace and full understanding. This meant being respectful yet assertive and exploring our interests while not wandering too far outside of our parents understanding. It also meant looking and acting within certain cultural norms without compromising our opportunities here as Americans.

Aging is one of those unusual paradoxes where being Indian and American does not agree. It appears that Americans embrace doing things make you feel good — from facials to chemical peels to plastic surgery to Botox. There is discussion and a sharing of experiences that is a part of the American culture. I can’t speak to other communities and cultures but the Indian community from both the immigrant and first generation perspectives does not embrace artificial enhancement. Indo-American women will undergo a variety of procedures and services behind closed doors and lie about their genetics and diets to no end. An acceptance of anti-aging tools that we have available to us as Indians in America has been a difficult pill to swallow for many.

I am 36 years old, I have been getting Botox for 3 years. When I looked in the mirror after having two kids and moving homes twice, my body directly experienced the stress. My body had undergone both of those life-changing events and left me with deep wrinkles which made me feel older than I was. My friends, co-workers, and sisters were supportive when I first considered Botox (see our article here about facing judgement). We talked about it, read about it, researched it until I eventually went for it. Some family members, on the other hand, discouraged me from doing it and hesitantly added that if I did get it, I should keep it to myself. After seeing my results and my satisfaction, two short years later, they too went ahead and tried it out. But they have since kept their “genetic” advantages to themselves.

Without getting too carried away, I am grateful that I can take little steps to look the way I feel. I am not in denial of aging or of my life circumstances; this is a personal choice and one that has left me satisfied. By not sharing ideas and privatizing our desires, we cannot lift each other up in a way that can be positive in the right context.

I hope to get the discussion started. We are fortunate that one of our Savvy Chicks’, Avani, has a husband who is a plastic surgeon — if you have any questions please leave them in comments below and we will be happy to get you an expert’s perspective.

Cheers,

Rina

If Botox is not your thing yet, here are a few Chicks Picks from Beauty Chick, Neema (check out her take on sunscreen).

Collaborations, Fashion, girl talk, Life, Lifestyle, Motherhood, women

“Just Like Mommy” Fashion by Jems&A

October 11, 2017

I’ve always believed that confidence comes from within. You can’t fake it.

When my family comes together at the end of the day, we sit over dinner and discuss the things we are most proud of from the day. It might sound self-indulgent, but we hope that in recognizing our strengths and accomplishments we can be encouraged to continue to improve. Although it’s easy to focus on the “weight we need to lose” or the “wrinkles that are creeping in,” teaching self-acceptance can be a great confidence booster. It’s amazing, as a mother of two, to watch how much we influence the level of confidence our children have. But there is something I have learned about confidence: it is multidimensional. While self-worth comes from within, our outward selves can impact how we feel about our inward selves. Even though confidence isn’t always driven by what you see on the outside, it can definitely influence it.

I have observed my almost 7-year-old daughter watch me get ready for the day. Some days I feel like wearing yoga pants and no make up. Other days, I feel like wearing heels and a dress that make me feel good. When in both looks, I make it a point to be body positive and self-accepting as I know she’s listening to my thoughts and watching my actions. I’m certain I’m not alone when I admit there have been times that my daughter has emulated me in a way that I am not proud of. I use those moments as a stiff reminder that she’s watching and I need to be sure to send the right message about self-esteem and confidence.

My daughter loves to dress up. One of the looks she loves best is when our clothing matches. It could be as simple as matching colors, style, or even patterns. She can tell when I am “feelin’ myself” and she has a way of emulating that momentum. I don’t claim to have a perfect body or a beautiful face but one thing that I love the most is when I feel confident in my own skin — and I want to teach my daughter to feel the same.

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I recently stumbled across a really fun website called Jems&A. It’s a female-owned business whose mission is to design and style children’s clothing to help kids express their creative side in what they choose to wear. The Chicks love to support women’s businesses that also promote positivity! Their clothes were appropriate for my daughter and consistent with my own personal style which made it easy to do some “mommy & me” matching. They have clothes for not only daily wear but also for a fun night on the town.

Making memories with my children is what I cherish most in this short life. Taking the time to focus on my relationship with my children is one of my main priorities. It was fun to play dress-up with my daughter and incorporate laughter into our fun looks! If you like what see here in the post, consider checking out Jems&A. If you use the code ChicksAndSalsa20, you can get 20% off an order of $50 or more.

Feel good, look good, and share that same confidence with your mini! To read about how to discuss compassion with your mini, check out our post here.

Your chick,
Sonia

friends, girl talk, Lifestyle, Motherhood, women

Social Media: Friend or Foe

September 27, 2017

A busy Saturday — filled with running errands, soccer games, and catching up on household work from a crazy work week. In all relief, I settle into bed early to tune into the latest crime show I missed. After all, the kids are tucked away in bed and my husband is out — I’ll take advantage of this time to myself. I decide to play on my phone first…which I later regret. I stumble across a post that I’m not a part of…that I was never meant to be a part of. I brainstorm and think hard — was I invited to this outing and never saw the invite or replied back? I slowly realize that this post establishes the fact that everyone was invited but me. I come to the harsh reality that I have been left out from this group of “friends.” The group that would have routine outings and I was once a part of have now firmly stated their stance and that I was out.

I feel a moment of uncertainty. I feel almost 12. I feel a moment of rejection. This moment was just that though…just a moment. I quickly realize that it’s okay — I’m okay without that group. That group was full of toxicity anyways and maybe I’m okay without being invited even though the harsh cut-off did bruise me.

I brush off my feelings and focus on the positives I have going on…I have the friends that think of me and would think of me first when organizing an outing. I am grateful that I have friends that do keep my feelings in mind and would never cut me out like this. I have friends that would be enraged at the thought of me sitting here in distress feeling left out of a little outing.

I go back to watching my crime show feeling like a mature adult — opposite as to how I felt moments ago. I realize that it’s okay…after all, not everyone gets invited to everything and this moment makes things clearer than ever for me. I’m at that point in my life that every day should be lived to the fullest and not to be wasted on feeling lesser than anyone or anything.

The thing is, that I’m an adult and I have the life experiences to cope and get over these situations. Will I have feelings and emotions, yes but I also can get over these things better. I worry that my children and children I know aren’t there yet (see our post on Teaching Children Compassion). They don’t know how to cope and get over the feelings I just experienced. Social media hadn’t existed when I was growing up. There was no way of knowing an outing was going on with so and so. I wasn’t exposed to the evilness that some people have started using social media for — as a weapon. More and more I am realizing that people are using social media to get back at others or to show off their friendships and outings. Social media isn’t always being used as it was intended for which was to keep people connected.

I use social media. I actively post social gatherings and special moments. I love keeping up to date with the ones closest to me. I enjoy the pictures and memes shared on a daily basis. While I’m somewhat horrible at keeping up with correspondences, it does help me keep up with my friends and families’ lives.

Lately, I have made the conscience decision to refrain from posting anything that could intentionally or unintentionally hurt anyone. I do post updates about my kids, articles I find interesting, or even my tidbits about life from time to time. I do intend on posting special events — but not to get back at anyone, but to celebrate friends and family. I don’t feel that posting a picture when I’m out, knowing very well that someone is not included will make me feel better about myself. I don’t feel that purposely showing off to make others feel worse is the point and I won’t fall for it.

Check out this video that speaks to Why Fake Friendships are Ruining You Life!

What are your thoughts?

Your Brainy Chick,

Komal