THE MORINGA EFFECT

Moringa plant is a plant found in Africa and Asia. It derives its name from the Malaysian word "muringa". It is a healthy multipurpose plant and it's leaves, pods, fruits, flowers, roots and barks are nutrients in anyway unimaginable. However, it's most edible and beneficial part include the leaves and seeds. Moringa contents are used in making traditional medicine in Africa and Asia.
The wonderful thing about moringa is that all parts of the plant are a source of nutrients and antioxidant. It is for this cause it is referred as the " miracle tree" . Moringa leaves are the most edible part of the plant as it contains three times more iron than spinach.

Benefits
Moringa seeds contain edible oil known as Ben oil. This oil and it's nutrition value is likened to that of olive oil. It is clear, sweet, odorless and also rich in antioxidant.
It is surprising that only one plant contains all the essential amino acids needed by the body to grow, to maintain and repair cells.
Moringa leaves helps in building a healthy body as it heals ulcers, restricts tumors, reduce arthritis pain inflammation and control blood pressure. Also it is an immune booster as most patients of AIDS are medically advised to consume properly.
Moringa supplements are highly recommended over other multivitamin and calcium supplements. This is because they contain natural calcium and multivitamin.
Roots of moringa are used for traditional medicine and control disorders of the circulatory system and enhances the functioning of the digestive tract.

Researches have also proven that moringa roots can also cure ovarian cancer, kidney stones and inflammation. It contains photo nutrients that is antifungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial agent that fights against the of disease causing microorganisms. Moringa extracts aid in the treatment of sickle cell anaemia as it increase the red blood count and helps in maintaining the normal blood level.
Moringa oleifera also help in improving sensory perception and memory. It possesses anti epileptic properties and helps in fighting depression, anxiety and fatigue.
Generally, moringa is a highly nutritious plant, however in its usage in therapeutic relief should only be adhered to after due consultation with medical professionals. It is to note that the roots and barks of moringa have abortive effects and are not recommended for intake during pregnancy.
You can include moringa in your cooked meals like soups, sauce, rice, pasta etc to foster nutrients content of daily consumption.


                                                                       Truly Val


 REFERENCES

Stylecraze. April 25, 2017. 30 amazing benefits of moringa plant for skin, hair and health. (Blog post). Retrieved from http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/amazing-benefits-of-moringa-plant/#gref

Organic Fruits. 18 amazing moringa benefits. (Blog post). Retrieved from https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/moringa.html.

Healthy Reasons to "cherish" this CORN season

Corn also known as maize is the most popular cereal grain grown over the world. They are made in different forms for consumption like the popcorn and sweet corn which contains more sugar and less starch plus the refined products that are frequently consumed as ingredient in foods like corn oil, corn meal and corn flour.
Corn is a healthy grain rich in fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. It is mostly composed of carbohydrates but has little amounts of protein, fats, water, and minerals like magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper etc.

A healthy amount of corn consumption can prevent and control ailments like heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, blindness which is expressed below.
Improves Eye health: In as much as old age and infections are the main causes of visual impairment and blindness, studies have shown that a considerable amount of nutrition plays a significant  role. Dietary intake of antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin are predominant carotenoids in corn accounting for 70% of total carotenoid contents. High levels of these carotenoid in the blood are strongly linked with reduced risk of both macular degeneration and cataracts.
Therefore, regular consumption of foods rich in lutein and zeaxathin such as yellow corn, can have benefitial effects on our eye health.

Aids Digestion: The high dietary fiber contained in corn(double and insoluble) helps in blocking cholesterol and prevent digestive problems like constipation, hemorrhoids and diarrhea as well as colon cancer.

Prevents Anaemia: The consumption of corn helps in prevention of anemia which is a deficiency in vitamins B, iron and folic acid especially iron which is an essential mineral required to form red blood cells.

Prevents Diabetes and Hypertension: Organic fruits and vegetables like the corn help in reducing the signs of diabetes. Regular consumption helps in the management of diabetes and protect against hypertension due to the presence of photochemicals in corn. This is because these photochemicals regulate the activities of insulin in the body, helping diabetic exposed patients maintain a normal healthy life.

Protect the Heart: Intake of corn oil and sweet corn helps in the regulation of cholesterol and increases the flow of blood in the body. Thereby preventing the arteries from clogging, reduces blood pressure, and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Prevents Brain Disease: Maize is a good source of thymine which is an essential part of enzymatic reaction necessary for brain cell and cognitive function. It is needed for memory. The absence of corn in our meal while growing up can cause age related mental function line Alzheimer's disease.

Increased level of Energy: Starchy foods like corn contains high amount of carbohydrates which provides energy. They ensure proper functioning of the brain and nervous system. For lasting energy, it is advised to consume corn hours before exercising.

Corn because of it's rich source of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and antioxidant, should be included in every diet in every form be it sweet corn, pop corn or whole grain corn.





                                                                  Truly Val


REFERENCES
Atli Arnarson, PhD. February 4, 2015. Corn 101. Nutrition facts and health benefits. (Blog post). Retrieved from http://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/corn/#section11.

Stylecraze. April 28, 2017. 16 best benefits of corn for skin, hair and health. (Blog post). Retrieved from http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/benefits-of-corn-for-skin-hair-and-health/#gref

MAKEUP YAY AND NAY - 13 STEPS FOR BEGINNERS

It is an undeniable fact that makeup is fast growing and relevant trend of pop culture today. The makeup artist and industry at large is now a big deal as the movie industry, media houses, beauticians and private individuals like you and I depend largely on their services. This makes it a highly competitive trend with heavy price charges attached.
As a beginner, to achieve that everyday look independently, thereby saving time, energy and securing your pockets as well, below are 13 easy steps to achieve this goal.

1. Invest in good and quality makeup brushes. These brushes maybe expensive to purchase but they will help you achieve that makeup look and enhance the applied product to perfection.

2. For the application proper, first and foremost it is important your face is fresh and clean. Before you start with the makeup, wash your face, use a toner and possibly moisturizer.

3. Use a facial primer. If you want your makeup bolder and more, last longer as well as smoother when applied, it is advisable you start with a primer first.

4. Don't settle for the wrong shade of foundation. Investing and applying the wrong foundation shade will make your face look uneven, making your face look excessively different from your shoulder. Trust me this is not a pleasant look. Make it a duty to find the right foundation for your skin tone so that it can blend properly.
Apply with your fingers if you want a transparent coverage and brush for full coverage.

5. Be sure to apply foundation before concealer as foundation covers lots of problems. It enables you notice areas that need concealer. Also concealer will be cleaned off if applied before the foundation.
When going for a concealer, go for that which is a shade or two lighter than your skin tone so as to avoid that concealed area standing out and looking different from other parts of your face.

6. Set foundation with appropriate powder. Apply an appropriate foundation is best if you simply compliment it with the right powder. This will help set the foundation,  weatherproofing your look and making it easier to proceed with contouring or blusher.
When applying your powder, apply where you're shiniest first usually your T -zone. Your T-zone starts from your forehead down your nose before brushing lightly everywhere else.

7. Do learn the best shade of blush for your skin tone. Blush is used to highlight that part of your face where you blush the most especially on your cheek, therefore, it is best to apply the most suitable shade of for your skin tone.
Don't smile as you apply blush to your cheek as it destroys your intentions when you stop smiling, you discover that the blush ends up being closer to your mouth than intended.
Note: Make sure you blend properly in a circular motion to achieve the perfect look for your cheeks.

8. Don't use concealer or foundation as base for your eye-shadow it will cause your eye makeup to crease because it is too oily and will easily make the makeup slide over. Instead use an eye-shadow primer for long lasting shadow look.

9. Use one shade lighter or darker than your natural lip colour to achieve the perfect nude lip. Also bold up colours are more suitable for people with fuller lips than those with thinner lips. Do apply concealer on the outer parts of the lips for a more pouty sexy lips as it gives the lips a more definition and a lift.

10. Apply your mascara from the root of your lashes and zigzag the wand your way up.
Also for the brows try as much as possible to make your brows look natural and groomed. For a bolder brows you can use your eye pencils that's most suitable with your skin tone, or brow filler before you define and blend with the concealer.

11. It is advisable to use a magnifying mirror. Magnifying mirror shows your look in every detail and let's you know where you've made a mistake so that you can correct it.

12. Clean your brushes after use because as your brushes come in contact with your face, and then you put them back in makeup bags or storage, they become breeding grounds for bacteria. Using brushes that haven't been cleaned in a long while can lead to rashes on the face. It is preferable to clean makeup tools at least once a week. I recommend you use warm water and shampoo to soak then rinse off.

13. Wash off makeup before you sleep. Cosmetics contains chemicals that irritates the skin if left too long. Washing off makeup before going to bed is important and healthy for the face as it prevents breakouts or rashes and eventually lead to wrinkles and premature ageing.
When washing off quit using soap to wash off your face. This is a major no no for your face as it strips the skin from essential oil it needs and makes it overproduce oil which can cause more spots instead use face cleanser, wipes with warm water.

You should play with makeup everyday. Experiment and change looks everyday. Makeup helps you achieve that.

I am not so music as a makeup artist but I hope this helps.



                                                                Truly Val



REFERNCES

Kimberly Soane. (2017, May 5). The 10 Commandments of Applying Makeup a Pro. (Blog post). Retrieved from http://www.elle.com/beauty/makeup-skin-care/news/a14927/makeup-tips

Kristin. (2016, Jan 9). 26 of the most important do's and dont's of Makeup. (Blog post). Retrieved from http://www.fabfitbeauty.com/26-of-the-most-important-dos-and-donts-of-makeup/

Rebecca Valentine. How to makeup Do's and DONT'S. (Blog post). Retrieved from https://snapguide.com/guides/makeup-dos-and-donts-1/

That Superdrug feeling. The Do's and DONT'S of wearing Makeup. (Blog post). Retrieved from http://www.superdrug.com/blog/ask-the-experts/dos-donts-wearing-makeup

The Ultimate Makeup do's and dont's. (Blog post). Retrieved from http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert/advice/makeup-tips/the-ultimate-makeup-dos-and-donts.html

I WILL GET MARRIED TO WHO I WANT!

Marriage is an integral part of the society. It breeds the family which is the smallest unit of the society. Marriage despite being indigenous is evolving fast especially in a society like our, from polygamy to monogamy due to various factors like religious beliefs, economic hardship to name a few. These changes however positive it may seem has its down sides like the increasing divorce rates, separation or even bigamy whatever the case may be.

In a society like Nigeria, marriage is seen as the greatest achievement of a life time, in that no matter how much you have accomplished knowledge or monetary wise, you are considered less if being married is excluded. Therefore socialization towards this reality is imparted from birth to actuality. Little wonder there is pressure everywhere as young adults struggle to achieve this especially to avoid parents breathing down their neck to get married on arriving a certain age.
To the guy you hear "you have to settle down now that you're still hustling so you know the girl is not in for your money". To the lady you hear " ladies are like flowers, you better settle down now that you're still
blooming before you fade away". Then desperation sets in.

As a lady you see a guy whom you just met yesterday and today  he's introducing you to his friends as "his wife" to be, "mother of his unborn children", "baby mama"! Excuse me! We just met like 5 minutes ago! Quite alright we've heard of success marriage stories that began this way, and we know you're under pressure but that does not mean it will work for you. It's just a new tactics to make the innocent lady believe you're serious and surrender because by default women are programmed that way.
Hello! I will get married to who i want!
And you see a lady who is still in the phase of self discovery pressured into marriage because it is believed that it is the final definition of the so called " self discovery ". Do not get me wrong, I'm not saying that the concept of marriage is bad news, I'm just saying i will get married to whom i want!

Also, Mummy and Daddy who go about arranging marriage partners for their children our "ókó" "iyawo" syndrome all in the name of pawn or gift marriage, or simply tribal and cultural bias in favour of theirs. We know you mean well and want the best but gone are the days when such bias and favouritism was the basic criteria in choosing a life mate.

Times are changing fast. Parents and the society needs to understand that the 60's , 80's and 90's culture of marriage is entirely different from reality of today. It's a new ball game all together. People are allowed to choose anybody from anywhere at any point in time to settle down with and such decisions respected without any conditions attached.

So i am sorry to burst your bubble, but I WILL GET MARRIED TO WHO I WANT! 





                                                             Originally Val



Photo Credit - Google Images

THE TURMERIC MAGIC

TURMERIC is the root stalk of a tropical plant that's part of the ginger family. It contains CURCUMIN which is a very healthy nutrient. Turmeric contains more than 300 antioxidants which makes it a very powerful healer. Turmeric is used in innumerable ways as from generations. It has lots of benefits for the skin, hair as well as health benefits. Turmeric either in raw, powdered or paste form can be used cooking and many forms of skin care. 

BENEFITS OF TURMERIC 

FOR SKIN
Anti -Ageing
Turmeric when applied to the skin helps in ageing. Using and applying the paste or powder before bathing is the best way to achieve this glow. It is best to apply this substance generously over the face and body and then

CLASSES OF FOOD - HEALTH BENEFITS AND DOSAGE contd

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Fruits and vegetables are rich in all classes of foods: vitamins, carbohydrate, protein, minerals, water. From fruits like pineapple, apples, carrots etc to vegetables like cabbage, okra, green beans, leeks, peas, pepper. These fruits and vegetables including a host of others are rich in vitamins A, B, C, magnesium, potassium, iron, lunetin, folic acid, fiber, magnesium etc. Hence daily intake of fruits and vegetables reduces health risks like stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, nutrients like lunetin is an antioxidant that prevents blindness.
The amount of daily consumption of fruits and vegetables cannot be overemphasized as it is a major remedy for a healthy living.

CLASSES OF FOOD - HEALTH BENEFITS AND DOSAGE

Food is what makes us living things. It is essential for the body's growth and development. However, eating just the right amount and dosage makes us healthy.
There are 6 classes of food that when combined gives us a balanced meal for a balanced body growth and function.

CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are starchy fibers and sugars in food, fruits, vegetables and dietary products. Carbs are the body's main source of energy. They make up the highest percentage of our daily food and calories intake. Carbohydrates contain carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. Excess carbs are stored as fats. In as much as carbs contain most of energy  giving food, unhealthy carbs such as refined grains and added sugars do exist and should be avoided.