Nordic Naturals: Essential for Beautiful Hair

Saturday I decided to make a vitamin run because it had been a while since I ran out of my omega 3 supplements. Normally I tend to toggle back and forth between cod liver, krill, or fish oil depending on my budget at the time. I know how crucial omega 3 oils are to the overall functioning of the body. That's why I walked into the store determined to come out with a quality fish oil supplement.

Ok, so there I was standing in front of a huge display of numerous varieties of fish oil brands. After a few moments, I summoned sales person over for some sound advice. Little did I know that I was about to strike gold. As it turns out, the sales rep suffers from eczema. Because of her skin ailment, she has come rely on the use of omega 3 oils not just for overall health, but to treat a specific condition. I knew from the moment she shared this piece of information that I was talking to an expert.

Even though I had already selected a bottle which I intended to buy, the store rep graciously let me in on her little secret. She grabbed a bottle of Nordic Naturals, held it up, and I'll never forget what she said next.

"I've tried every brand of fish oil on this shelf because I have a skin condition. No other brand that I've tried has worked for me like this one. I can usually see a difference in my eczema after a few days of using this."
Well that's all I needed to hear. It's one thing to buy fish oils because it's good for you. It's completely different when someone has identified a brand for you that actually provides noticeable results. Why do I care about which brand of fish oil someone with eczema likes?

I... no, we care because our hair needs it. Our hair is made up of several layers. One of those layers consists of lipids, i.e. fats. Essentail Fatty Acid (EFA) is litterally one of the components of the hair. Proper amounts of EFAs in the system actually helps improve the levels of elasticity and hydration in the hair. If you aren't getting sufficient amounts of EFAs, you are probably growing hair that may be dehydrated and vulnerable. Oh, and by the way, dry flaky scalp can also be impacted by an increase of EFAs in the diet.


Once a superior brand of Omega oil was identified by the store rep, I immediately made my purchase and returned home to research. The first thing I did was look online to find out what made this brand of Omega 3 so effective. It didn't take too long for me to find this taken from Nordic Naturals' website

Exceeds International Pharmaceutical Standards
Standards are set to protect consumers
Fish oil quality standards do not exist in the United States. To ensure ongoing quality, Nordic Naturals adheres to and exceeds the stringent Norwegian Medicinal Standard (NMS) and the European Pharmacopoeia Standard (EPS) for all products. These standards guarantee quality products by setting maximum allowances on peroxides, heavy metals, dioxins, furans, and PCBs.

Exceptional Freshness Levels
Freshness, which ensures product integrity and biological efficacy, may be the single most important quality of fish oils. Nordic Naturals’ patented, oxygen-free manufacturing process delivers peroxide values (indicators of freshness) down to absolute 0.0 mEq/kg, with an average of 0.75 mEq/kg or approximately 14 times below the Norwegian Medicinal Standard and European Pharmacopoeia Standard limits. The lower the peroxide value, the fresher the fish oil.

Exceptional Purity Levels
Purity is a significant concern among fish oil consumers
Nordic Naturals’ raw material is harvested from some of the cleanest waters in the world, and is tested by independent laboratories for heavy metals and over 210 other environmental contaminants. See research for more information on environmental toxins.

Award-Winning Taste
The key objections to taking fish oils are taste and aftertaste. Nordic Naturals utilizes a proprietary enzymatic process to ensure a completely repeat-free product. Our patented manufacturing process adds natural fruit essences into both the capsule and oil for a light, fruity taste.

Exclusive and Exceptional Raw Material
A great finished product starts with the best
Nordic Naturals starts with the best raw materials available: fish low on the food chain, which naturally contain low levels of impurities. All of our products are made exclusively from three fish species: Arctic Cod, Anchovies, and Sardines, as they are naturally high in the Omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. Additionally, we use organic evening primrose and borage oils whenever possible for our fish oil blend products. In fact, Nordic Naturals is one of the largest buyers of organic primrose and borage oils in the world.

Multi-Patented Manufacturing Process
Without chemicals or excessive heat
Nordic Naturals’ multi-patented manufacturing processes, accompanied by leading edge processing technologies, deliver fish oil with exceptional freshness and purity levels. Nordic Naturals uses several steps in processing the oils, from water and clay filters to an enzymatic molecular distillation process.

We use only the natural triglyceride form of fish oil
Triglycerides are considered the natural form of the essential fatty acid molecule. Over 98% of all fats ingested are in triglyceride form.
Next I scanned various websites and found numerous glowing reviews about this product. Most of those who tried it enjoyed the fact that the fishy aftertaste burp common to most fish oil supplements is not a concern with Nordic Naturals. I, for one, have not experienced any of this unwanted side effect. So I just wanted to share this wonderful find with you all. I do have to mention that this brand is a tad bit pricier than your average Omega 3 supplement but the concentration of EFAs per capsule is higher than most. Not only that, you are also getting a quality purified supplement compared to other oils on the store shelves. It think this brand will definitely be a keeper for me.

~Here's healthier hair, ladies~

Lesson in Healthy Hair Episode I : Liquid Green

Ladies and gentleman, class is in session. Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable. In today's class, we'll be re-learning about healthy foods and, of course, the benefit to our overall beauty. I found this nifty video on youtube from fellow blogger Beauty Logic. Here "DE" (Dominican Enigma) is interviewing Kimberly, founder of Envision Beauty, about the tips and tricks she uses to keep her skin and hair as healthy as possible.

Before we get started, I wanted to give you a hint. What's smooth, rich, and has lots of green? No, not the man you were dreamin' about last night, I'm talkin' about morning smoothies!

You ladies know that I'm big on eating and drinking healthy so this video is right up my alley. As you might have remembered, I wrote a post a while back on green foods. I've even written a post recently on healthy drinks for the summer. I could go on and on but I figured that you might enjoy hearing it from someone else for a change.







Now, it's completely obvious that Kimberly is fully devoted to her natural eating and raw food lifestyle. I'm not saying that we should all give up our rice and beans for vegan/raw diet. I am suggesting that we can try a little harder to give our bodies some nourishing foods every once in a while. I for one, love the idea of starting the day off with a healthy smoothie. Maybe you don't want to drink a head of lettuce for breakfast but perhaps you can add some more palatable green powders and your fave fruits for taste.

O.k. ladies. Class is dismissed. Thanks for being prompt and attentive for today's lesson. I appreciate you joining me and one last thing before we end for the day........please don't forget your homework.

Quench your hair's thirst with these healthy drinks

I can't believe how hot the temperature is this summer. July hasn't even hit yet and I've already become a victim of spontaneous sweating in the early morning hours of the day. One huge side effect of this extreme heat is the rapid fluid loss occurring in such a short time frame. We all know the importance of staying well hydrated, especially during summer months, but I'm here to spread the word about the wide array of healthy fluids we can use to satisfy the thirst of both our bodies and our hair.

As I sit here, people watching at my local sandwich shop, I'm taking note the myriad of people purchasing iced lattes and cold sodas in hopes of experiencing some type of refreshment. What they aren't thinking about are the missed opportunities to provide the body nourishment not only with the sandwiches they consume but also with the drinks they wash them down with.

I'm constantly trying to figure out how to give my body (and my hair) more of what it needs most. I think right now is the perfect opportunity to replenish, not only what the body losses, but also what it's missing, by consuming highly nutritious fluids. When you are out and about this summer, consider including the following thirst quenchers into your day-to-day.

Fresh Food Juices!

The list is endless but I'll attempt to name a few and allow you to get creative. But a general rule of thumb you should follow is, "if you can't get it into you diet then drink it!"  If  you've been missing opportunities to incorporate greens into your daily eating, drink it! Nowadays you can get a variety of prepackaged organic fruit and vegetable juices chilled and ready to drink. Bolthouse, Odwalla, and Naked are just a few brands out there with lots of different choices ranging from carrot juice to green super-foods to high antioxidant fruit juices. Whenever I'm not being a good girl with my eating habits, I also make sure to pick up a bottle as a way of making things right.  Check out the back label of this juices when you get a chance, they are loaded with nutrition and best of all the liquid vitamins go straight to the bloodstream.  

Don't let the choices stop there....you can also drink up the myriad of other health food drinks available like coconut water, aloe and acai juice the list goes on and on. Don't forget about nut milks that are loaded with protein. By the way, Acai contains essential fatty acids which is always a good thing. A general rule of thumb you should use when reaching for a drink should be did it once come from a fruit or veggie? Is it in it's most natural form possible? 

**Disclaimer** Whenever reaching for juices, make sure to read the label so you are not consuming drinks that have high (man made) sugar contents.


Supped-Up Smoothies!
Ok so when it's reeeeally hot, you start looking for an icier beverage choice. Instead of an iced coffee, why not a smoothie? I'm talking about the specialty smoothies that use real fruit/veggie bases.  You can also pay  a bit more for healthy boosters like multi-vitamins, spirullina, protein, and so on. Sure these drinks cost a bit more than if you were to just buy a soda but think of all the fabulous benefits. Also, most of the time they sell these smoothies in large serving sizes which can really fill you up. Smoothies often serve as meal replacements for me on those days when I don't feel like grabbing a heavy lunch. Again make sure that you are opting for the most natural options available and treat yourself to the health boost option of your choice.

Good 'Ole Fashion H20!
If your budget won't allow for fancy drinks then water is the next best thing. Actually, you should keep a bottle of water handy at all times. That way whenever the feeling of thirst comes upon you, you'll be only an arms reach of some refreshing h20. Water is the most natural form of rehydration out there. Water helps your body on so many levels it's not even funny. Think about it, without water for three days, you're dead.
You skin, your nails, your hair, your organs, your cells, all of it is depending on you to give it as much water as it needs to thrive. Not survive, but thrive. Start right now to incorporate more water in your daily habits. Drink some first thing in the morning and keep a bottle handy at all times. 

High Antioxidant Teas!
In our quest for cooling ourselves down let's not forget about the traditionally hot drink, tea! Of course in the summertime you can opt to have your tea served on the rocks. I know what you're thinking, "what do antioxidants have to do with healthy hair?"
That's a great question! As you may already know, healthy teas are revered for their high antioxidant levels. Antioxidants search out and destroy free radicals in our bodies. So what's that got to do with our hair? Well just as free radicals cause premature aging in the skin and cells, so can they also create premature agin in our hair follicles. This means are shortened life for the hair strand. Shortened hair life means that you'll have a tougher time reaching those coveted hair length goals you've been dreaming about. Do your self a favor and enjoy a nice cup of  antioxidant-rich tea.

Stimulating Lemonade!
You know how everyone was doing the Master Cleanse for weight loss and whatnot, well after reading about the nutritional benefits of the fresh squeezed lemon, the cayenne pepper, and maple syrup, I thought to myself, "why can we drink this anytime?" According to the online Master Cleanse manual, the ingredients of this weight-loss lemonade provide the body the necessary requirements to function optimally even while we forgo solid food. Think about how great it would be to start off your day with a stimulating nutrient filled lemonade. Best of all this drink is relatively inexpensive and easy to make at home. Another benefit is that you can control the sugar content by adding as little or as much maple syrup as you like. This drink wakes up the digestive system and improves circulation all over the body. Don't wait for your next cleanse to enjoy this healthy lemonade mix.


With so many nutritious beverage choices out there you have no excuse to but drink healthy. Why even bother drinking yucky soda that does absolutely nothing for the hair and is worse on the body. I've done my part in spreading the knowledge. Knowing is half the battle, the other half is up to you.

Happy Hair Growing!

The Japanese Secret to strong beautiful hair

Spending your hard earned dollars on hair vitamins is one option to healthy hair but for the most impact possible, proper nutrition is the answer. Since most of us aren’t normally eating a diet rich in fruit and veggies, I believe that we should get the most bang for the buck by going for the most nutrient dense foods out there.

I’ve already posted once before about the awesome powers of super greens like spirullina and chlorella. Today I want to talk about another power food, seaweed! Sure, you can fill your belly with pre-packed vitamins but why bother when if you can get loads of hair intensive nutrients found in nature’s sea miracle.


For the last couple of days, I’ve spent several hours reading the countless accounts of people who’ve stopped a complete stranger in public to ask the person about the secret to her lovely hair. Time after time, the reason for the healthiness and length of the locks were attributed to eating seaweed on a consistent basis. After reading about so many beautiful hair sightings being attributed to seaweed consumption, I knew that seaweed had to become a staple in my diet.


Take a gander at this excerpt from Raw Food Blog

Sea vegetables, providing plenty of proteins, complex carbohydrates, carotenes, and chlorophyll, stimulate and strengthen the skin, hair, and nails. Brittle hair, caused by a shortage of minerals, too much salt or animal food, or excessive use of drugs, can be restored by eating sea vegetables.

Sea vegetables offer tremendous benefits not only for health but for beauty. Kelp, wakame, arame, dulse, and nori are all high-protein vegetables, low in fat. Rich in calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, iodine, and other trace minerals, sea vegetables like alaria and kelp are better calcium sources than milk. Sea vegetables, like land vegetables, are high in potassium.




I normally eat sushi a couple of times a month which is no where near where I want to be so immediately made a bee-line to my local Asian restaurant and loaded up on this wonderful hair delicacy. I decided to stock up on a bunch of yummy nori which is the seaweed sheet used to roll sushi. Nori is extremely low in calories and high in nutrition-it’s the perfect snack. My seaweed binge didn’t stop there, I also picked up some dried wakame to add to soup and stews. I even made a stop at my local vitamin store and purchased some kelp in both tablet in in liquid form for those days when I wouldn't be consuming seaweed in my meals. You all can tell that I am serious about this seaweed stuff. I am extremely fascinated with such potent superfoods because unlike some vitamins, natural foods are already packaged in forms that’s readily absorbed by the body. What more can one ask for?

Not only will my hair benefit from this increased nutrition but I anticipate and equally beneficial result with my skin, nails, and overall health. My goal is to consume seaweed in its natural form at least several times per week. I figure it’s only a matter of time before the benefits of my efforts will manifest itself outwardly. In my opinion, seaweed should be a part of everyone’s diet because of the high amount of minerals, calcium and glyconutrients.

Here's more on the nutritional value of seaweed.




For those of you do it yourself gals like me who don't want to spend a fortune on sushi take-out, here are some video guides on how to make sushi at home at a fraction of the cost.





I really wanted to share this with my readers because I truly feel that there are an unlimited amount of options available to us that can make a major impact to our healthy hair journey. I’m absolutely sold on the idea of seaweed being a key to having strong healthy hair.

Krill oil for mega omega power!

Krill? What in the world? That's what I thought when I first heard of krill. Is an ingredient in hair products? Do I just buy the oil straight and rub it all over my hair?
The answer is neither. That's because krill is an crustacean which closely resembles a shrimp. Don't be fooled by the name, the oil from this little creature is said to be 48x more potent then that of fish oils. Yes, that's right, 48 times more powerful!

How can that be? Apparently the composition of the oil is one that is more readily absorbed in our body than regular fish oil. Another benefit of krill is that it doesn't have the fishy after taste that we normally experience when taking fish oil supplements. Krill, unlike fish oils contain high levels of antioxidants which contributes to its high shelf life. Its also said that high mercury levels is not prevelent in krill because of the remote arctic waters where the krill is harvested.

Here's some information taken from aboutkrilloil.com describing the wonder oil.

"Unlike fish oils, Krill oil carries omega-3s in the form of phospholipids, which are liposomes. This is then delivered to your body’s cells. The compounds EPA and DHA are carried more effectively by these phospholipids. Fish oils do not have the phospholipid complex and instead their omega-3 fatty acids are contained in the form of free triglycerides which are less effective.

The phospholipids are known as the building blocks for your cell membranes. They control the cellular transport and this helps to protect the cell membranes from free radical attacks. The control helps omega-3 fatty acids as it allows them to pass their molecules into your intestine wall.

Astaxanthin has great antioxidant benefits. In studies it has been shown to be 10 times more effective as an antioxidant than carotene. It has also been shown to be 100-500 times more effective than Vitamin E. Other studies have shown the antioxidant benefits of krill oil is more than 300 times greater than that of measured Vitamin A and Vitamin E and 48 times greater than Omega-3 18:12 fish oil."


We all know that in order to have truly healthy hair we absolutely need to have an ample amount of omega 3's in our diet. Its crucial. Any lack of this essential nutrient will result in dry hair, dull skin, brittle nails. Not to mention the lack of concentration and other health effects.

I don't know about you but I'm super-excited about this product! I'm all about bigger and better so this is a perfect find for me. I'll definitely be adding this product to my arsenal.

Oh how sweet it isn't! Yet another reason why you should limit your sugar intake

A few years ago I was religious about eliminating sugar from my diet. This change came after stumbling onto a website, a while back, and reading of a study where a dog given a diet of only water outlived a dog provided a diet of sugar water. That was the moment that I knew I had to make a decision to limit the amount of sugar I take in on a regular basis.

I then proceeded to eliminate as much refined sugar as possible from my diet. Not buying a pack of snack cakes was easy. But when I found out that my loaf of bread and the ketchup I use both contained sugar, I came to the realization that giving up sugar would be harder than I first thought. I have since backslided from my commitment made years ago to eliminate sugar. No, I'm not to the point of buying snack cakes, but I haven't been as disciplined with checking the labels of common food for sugar levels.

Well, I'm going back to my no-sugar-eatin' ways. The cause of my turnaround was when I found out that, amoungst many other reasons, sugar can cause spit ends. Yes, split ends! I first read about this in a book on healthy hair and when I thought about it, this made perfect sense.

When I studied the effects of sugar on the body years ago, I learned that because refined sugars are devoid of nutrients, the body actually has to use its own nutrient reserves just to break down the sugar in your system. Hence, the reason why we experience tooth decay when we consume too much sugar. We are using the body's calcium to digest it. Along with calcium, sugar also depletes the body's copper reserves. In fact,a recent study found that rats fed a diet high in sucrose experienced three times the reduction in copper compared to rats who were fed a diet rich in starch.

A deficiency in copper, my friend, is one cause of split ends. Copper, in general, is extremely important for the health of your hair. In fact, according to Hair Vitalizer.com, copper stimulates the cells that are responsible for the substances that are present during the hair's growth phase. Without an ample copper reserve, you may not experience the same level of growth that you would normally with a balanced diet.

Sugar should be technically thought of as a poison because it actually robs our bodies of essential nutrients leaving behind only empty calories for which your body has no use for. That is like giving someone your car for thousands of dollars only to find out that the money was counterfeit. You gave up something of value and what you are left with is worthless.

Your hair grows directly from inside of you and relies on your nutritional stores for its healthy state. Because we are choosing to relax our hair, we have to make sure that we are growing the healthiest, strongest, hair possible so that it can somewhat withstand the harsh process. Sugar undermines all of our efforts at achieving great health and we must no longer allow this to happen.

Today, I urge you to begin to look a little more closely at the amount of sugar your are consuming on a regular basis (the average American consumes 2-3 pounds a week). Think of sugar not as the sweet confectionery treat but as a dangerous poison. I know how hard it is to eliminate refined sugar from your diet (in fact, its nearly impossible). Instead of going cold turkey, why not try some simple alternatives like fruit juice with no sugar added or a some ripe grapes in lieu of bit sized chocolates. Fruit sugars, unlike refinded sugars, come equipped with enzymes that aid's its degestion. This means that the body uses less of its own nutrients to digest it. Going forward, I want you to be aware of the sugar levels in the foods you eat so you can make conscious daily choices to limit your sugar intake for your health and the health of the beautiful hair of yours.

Give your relaxed hair a boost with carrot juice!

So I am back to adding carrot juice to my regular routine. A few years ago, I first heard of the healthy hair benefits of carrot juice on hair forums. If I recall correctly, a member of the board detailed her experience of when she was hospitalized and drank carrot juice daily as a source of nutrition. The side effects, she soon discovered, were healthier hair and clearer skin. As soon as I finished the post, I went out immediately and purchased some ready made carrot juice. Over the next several weeks, I made sure to have at least a couple of swigs of carrot juice a day in expectation of fabulous results.

Because carrots are loaded with nutrition, consuming it in liquid form is an extremely effective way realizing the benefits of this wonder-food. Let's take a closer look at the nutritional content of carrots and, more importantly, how it benefits our hair.

Beta Carotene-Carrot juice is, of course, loaded with beta carotene. The bright orange color is a testament of its beta carotene richness. In the body, beta carotene is converted to vitamin A. According to the label on my Bolthouse carrot juice, one 8 oz serving contains 700% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A. One of the healthy hair benefits of vitamin A is that it helps your scalp to produce sebum, which is the natural oil your scalp produces to keep the hair from drying out. Relaxed hair can benefit greatly from the normal production of these natural oils. As sebum production increases, you should massage your scalp to keep the sebum form clogging the pores on your scalp. A little jojoba oil on the scalp also helps to manage overproduction of sebum and the potential for clogged pores.

Vitamin C-This wonderful antioxidant is water-soluble which means that it is not retained (stored) in the body. You should consume vitamin c rich foods on a daily basis in order to consistently realize healthy hair and skin benefits. Without the necessary amounts of vitamin c, you may find that you are experiencing excessive hair loss. Not only that, you may also experience premature grey hair if you aren't getting your C's. Another benefit of vitamin C is improved scalp circulation. Think of healthy scalp circulation like you would a delivery truck that drops off all of the merchandise for a retail store. All of the nutrients in the bloodstream are delivered to the hair follicle efficiently with proper scalp circulation.

Vitamin E-Also helps in scalp circulation because of the increased oxygen to the blood. Because vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, increased levels of this vitamin in your blood can help combat against hair loss and possibly help against premature greying. Not only can this vitamin promote healthy hair, it also has wondrous benefits for the skin. I sometimes apply the contents of a broken capsule to my skin before bed. By morning, I can visibly see a difference in the overall texture and look of my skin.

B Vitamins-According to fitday.com, carrot juice contains both vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. These vitamins are essential components of any healthy hair plan. They prevent hair loss and help maintain the vitality of the hair. B vitamins also help increase our energy levels. Take advantage of the increased energy by adding a workout to your daily activities and benefit from the extra blood flow to the scalp.

These are just some of the reasons why carrot juice should be incorporated into your diet. There's no need to sit and munch on a bag of carrots to reap the benefits, just keep a bottle of the organic stuff in the fridge and take a swig once or twice a day. Enjoy.

My coconut milk alterantive for stronger hair

This week while browsing through some of my favorite hair blogs, I found yet another recommendation for including coconut milk into my hair routine. The milk would serve as a nice source of protein for my pampered tresses. I love coconut oil for numerous reasons so I immediately knew that adding this step would be a good move.

Much to my dismay, some of the various websites who covered the subject detailed the drippy, potentially messy, experience of having milk run down your back. Not only was I turned off by that visual, I was also weary of having to throw half a can of coco-milk away because of not having used all of it in one sitting.

A few days later, while gingerly strolling down the aisles of my local Asian supermarket, I stumbled upon the answer to my dilemma. There before me was a tuna sized can of coconut milk powder.

A myriad of thoughts began to run through my mind.

"Coconut powder will probably last forever."
"In powder form it'll be easy for me to use as little or as much as I need without having to throw the rest away."
"I can use the powder in my green smoothies."
"I'll mix this powder with my moisturizing conditioners to add a kick of protein."



Before long the can of coco-powder had found itself a new home. Last night I cracked it open the can and gazed upon the fine white powder. Everything in me wanted to taste it soooo badly. Without the help of a spoon, I immediately stuck my tongue into it and scooped as much as my tongue would allow. The powder immediately melted down my throat leaving a slight hint of coconut flavoring. After the episode repeated itself a few times, I decided it was now time to actually use it. I separated the powder in two zip lock bags, one to be used for hair purposes and one for consuming.

The powder is so fine that I had absolutely no problems mixing it in with my conditioner. I experienced wonderful results and would highly recommend that you try powdered coconut milk as an alternative to the runny sticky milk. You also have the option of adding water to you powder and creating your own coconut milk if you chose to do so.

(Maybe next time I will mix with coconut oil and create some sort of coconut-milk-oil-concoction )


Coconut Milk Powder-Try it, you might like it!

Going Green.....for the health of your hair

There's lots of talk nowadays about going green. Well I'm here to talk about how we could be friendly to our hair by going green. Specifically, green superfoods and how they can take our health, and our hair to the next level.

I ceased from eating red meat and chicken about a year and a half ago. As I started researching the nutritional impacts to my decision, I stumbled upon a wonderful world of green supplements that I had never before heard of. These superfoods came in the form of blue-green algae. The more I researched the health benefits the more excited I got about the overall possible improvement to my hair. I even found this fantastic video on youtube that went into detail about the nourishing qualities of the green foods.

This food product has been called the world's healthiest food. I was attracted by the fact that spirulina, pound for pound, contains more protein that meat. It even contains high amount of valuable B vitamins one does not normally find in plant foods.

Lets talk about some of the benefits:
*Spirulina contains 10 times the concentration of beta carotene of carrots.
*Spirulina is the highest protein food without the negative effects of cholesterol.
*Spirulina contains essential fatty acids and amino acids.
*Spirulina contains phytonutrients for optimal health.


Spirulina's close relative is chlorella. Chlorella contains all of the wonderful nutritional properties of spirulina along with an added property that helps to detoxify the body. I can usually find Spirulina in powder form but for some reason, I usually tend to find Chlorella in tablets. I keep both the spirulina powder and chlorella tablets around. The powder for when I have time to make delicious smoothies in the morning. The pills for when I have to rush out the door.

Sometime last year I was able to cultivate the habit of drinking a green smoothie every morning. The smoothie was a combination of:

1 Banana
2 Vanilla Soy Milk
3 Spirulina
4 Powdered fiber

It was a fairly simple and truly delicious drink. The spirulina will make everything turn green but don't be fooled, you will not likely taste it. The only time I can remember actually tasting the stuff was when I got adventurous and mixed the powder with plain water. That was before I knew how easily I could mask the taste with just a banana and some soy milk.

At one point in time I was faithfully making my morning smoothie daily. My wavy new growth was proof that my hair follicles were being nourished by the superfood. The new hair was unlike anything that every grew out of my head before. It made stretching a snap. I fell off the daily smoothie bandwagon when my mixer malfunctioned. But I know that now is the time to get back to my routine! Since going without a blender for so long I have found alternative ways to enjoy my spirulina powder.
*I mix with my Yoplait yogurt
*I add to my Bolthouse farm juices.

Next I will try mixing into plain fruit juices to see how it goes. These alternative ways of consuming will keep me from making excuses when I don't feel like peeling a banana. I can no longer make excuses for not consuming this incredible product every single day.

So join me, won't you, in helping to make our world a better place. A better place by going green and creating a head of healthy hair. The planet will thank you.