Weekend Link Love — Edition 484

Research of the Week

Increasing cholesterol synthesis gene expression restores the walking ability of mice with multiple sclerosis. Too bad they’ll all keel over from heart attacks, no doubt.

In terms of cancer risk, nicotine inhalers are way safer than e-cigarettes, e-cigarettes are way safer than tobacco vaporizers, and tobacco vaporizers are way safer than cigarettes.

New Primal Blueprint Podcasts

Episode 205: Jason Leapai and Jason Sakorsi: Host Elle Russ hangs out with Jason and Jason, hosts of The Savage Podcast. The Jasons are big nature-lovers, true outdoorsmen, lifelong martial artists, and committed Primal eaters.

Each week, select Mark’s Daily Apple blog posts are prepared as Primal Blueprint Podcasts. Need to catch up on reading, but don’t have the time? Prefer to listen to articles while on the go? Check out the new blog post podcasts below, and subscribe to the Primal Blueprint Podcast here so you never miss an episode.

Interesting Blog Posts

What could have been an interesting discussion—should you cook with olive oil or coconut oil?—ends up a one-sided screed against saturated fat.

For the second straight year, U.S. life expectancy has dropped.

Media, Schmedia

I admire Rahul Verma’s efforts to fight the Westernization of the Indian diet, but he should really read Dr. Ron Sinha’s South Asian Health Solution.

A 63-year-old British man found himself enmeshed in a months-long battle with uncontrollable prostate orgasms after buying a special butt plug to nurse his infected prostate back to health and taking Cialis to heal a UTI. I’m sure those were the reasons.

Everything Else

An artificial pancreas that metes out insulin as-needed, even during HIIT.

Knowing back pain’s mostly in the head is often the only way chronic back pain sufferers can improve.

When to start collecting social security benefits.

Things I’m Up to and Interested In

Pretty incredible study result: In treatment-resistant depression, psilocybin increases the amygdala response to emotional faces, the opposite of what SSRIs do. SSRIs blunt negative emotions; psilocybin (with psychological support) help patients face and work through them.

Blog post that got me thinking: Excessive heavy lifting is unnatural!

Concept I’m pondering: Do schizophrenics have a better grasp on objective reality?

Podcast I enjoyed: Nina Teicholz on Joe Rogan.

Miscellaneous news I found interesting: Flight crews are exposed to more radiation than anyone else.

Recipe Corner

• A stir-fry sauce for all instances.
• Make-your-own charcuterie board.

Time Capsule

One year ago (Dec 31– Jan 6)

• What Will 2017 Mean For Your Life? – Well?
• New Year Pitfalls: Where Kick-Start Plans Go Wrong – Don’t make these mistakes.

Comment of the Week

“Sounds like you have some skin in the game.”

– Nicely done, Nocona.

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Keto Blueberry Muffins

These keto-friendly muffins are hands-down one the best gluten-free, low-carb muffins out there. Even with only a trace of sugar per serving (sweetened with stevia), these muffins really taste like a treat worth getting out of bed for. They’re fluffy and moist with a smooth cake-like texture, proving once and for all that you don’t need white flour, sugar, or a long list of not-so-natural ingredients to make a genuinely delicious muffin.

The main ingredient list is short: almond flour, egg, butter and whipping cream, plus the necessary salt, baking soda and baking powder. A little almond extract and liquid stevia add flavor and sweetness, but honestly, you can omit sweetener entirely and the muffins still turn out great—especially, if fresh blueberries are added.

This keto muffin recipe can be used as a base for whatever type of muffin you crave. Use vanilla or another extract for flavor, add cinnamon, use a different type of fruit…heck, turn these muffins totally savory by adding little bits of bacon. Now that’s an idea worth heading back into the kitchen to try…

Servings: 9 muffins

Time in the Kitchen: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups finely ground almond flour (280 g)
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder (1.25 g)
• ½ teaspoon salt (2.5 g)
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature (60 g)
• 3/4 cup heavy cream (180 ml)
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (1.25 g)
• 4 drops liquid stevia (or less)
• ½ teaspoon baking soda (2.5 g)
• ½ cup fresh, small blueberries (optional) (70 g)

Instructions

Heat your oven to 375 °F/190 ºC and line a muffin pan with 9 liners, or use a silicone muffin pan.

Whisk together almond flour, baking powder and salt.

In a large bowl, whisk together butter, heavy cream, egg, almond extract, stevia and baking soda until smooth.

Combine the almond flour mixture with the bowl of wet ingredients, stirring gently to combine. The batter will be thick.

Spoon the batter into the muffin tin, filling the cups almost to the top (this recipe makes 9 muffins).

Bake until the muffins are lightly browned on top and a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean, about 16 minutes. Allow muffins cool for 10 minutes in the pan before eating.

For optimal freshness, store these keto muffins in the refrigerator.

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From Skinny Fat to Healthy Fab!

It’s Friday, everyone! And that means another Primal Blueprint Real Life Story from a Mark’s Daily Apple reader. If you have your own success story and would like to share it with me and the Mark’s Daily Apple community please contact me here. I’ll continue to publish these each Friday as long as they keep coming in. Thank you for reading!

 In the past, even though on the outside I was British size 8 (American size 0) on the inside I was skinny fat with numerous health problems. I was sick of feeling sick all the time. Constant migraines, bloating, cold after cold, yeast infections, low energy levels and lack of concentration. were all I knew at that time. In fact, I was most probably on my way to become another victim of modern diet type 2 diabetes. Finding the Primal/paleo/keto way of living allowed me to reverse all my health problems.

Currently, I live in Shanghai, but my journey began in Poland in a small village next to the Baltic Sea. I was fortunate enough to be raised in a pollution free environment and on organic produce from my Granny’s farm. Sadly, my Granny stopped raising animals and growing her own vegetables when I was 15, and that’s when my family and I discovered processed food, coated in vegetable oils and sugar.

My favourite food to eat became chocolate, and because I’ve never struggled with weight I felt invincible and thought it was O.K. to eat it in unlimited quantities daily. I was also a carb addict, eating so called ‘healthy’ foods. My breakfast consisted of cappuccino and croissant, followed by freshly squeezed orange juice. For lunch, I would often opt for a sandwich (made out of ‘healthy’ whole grains, of course!), a pack of crisps and a chocolate bar. For dinner, I would have homemade pasta or a rice dish cooked in vegetable oils. I would often end my day with a dessert or a piece of fruit and a glass or two of wine. This high carb and sugar diet left me hungry, so grazing throughout the day on chocolate and fruits to sustain my energy level was also a daily occurrence.

Being too preoccupied with studying, working, partying, drinking, toxic relationships, traveling and staying up late throughout all of my teens and twenties, I failed to consider what was going on inside my body, my spirit, and my soul. Finally, in my late 20’s, I hit rock bottom with all sorts of health issues. This desperate “aha” moment brought me to the Primal Lifestyle. I finally realised that my dress size had nothing to do with health and simply being skinny didn’t equate to being healthy.

During this time my father was also diagnosed with malignant gastric cancer, which left me devastated and confused about the lifestyle my family and I were leading. I took this moment as a very loud wake-up call and decided to embark on a journey that would heal my broken relationship not only with food but also my soul.

For the past three years I have been studying, researching and experimenting with the healing properties of different foods, essential oils, and relaxation techniques. Thanks to my newfound application to a healthy lifestyle, I managed to overcome my health challenges. During my healing journey I had to restore my insulin sensitivity, treat my leaky gut, and cure my insomnia. Staying away from my best ‘friend’ chocolate and other man-made carbohydrates, such as bread, pasta, chips, cookies, and cutting out refined sugar including ‘natural’ sugar like honey wasn’t easy, but these were the first steps I needed to take.

Luckily, I just happen to love food and was eager to bring everything I learnt about nutrition into the kitchen and create new meal plans without sacrificing the flavour. The food I make nowadays is gluten-free, vegetable oil-free and sugar-free, and it tastes scrumptious. When choosing ingredients for my meals I focus on locally grown, organic vegetables and grass-fed meat. I love to cook using coconut oil, real butter, ghee and plenty of anti-inflammatory herbs and spices. Through the healing properties of food and daily yoga practice I overcame my health problems. This new lifestyle changed the way I look at food, stress, relationships and exercise.

Of course, these changes didn’t come easily, and I met a lot of resistance—surprisingly mostly from people who I thought, at that time, cared for me the most. This new lifestyle among other things brought changes to my social life, some of which were too big for some of my ‘friends’ to handle or understand. Instead of happily going out for late nights drinking, all I wanted to do was to be active during the day and go to bed at 9 p.m. with my favourite book.

My true friends were happy to meet up, go hiking or play other sports and then make a paleo dinner together, something I really appreciate to this day. Now I understand that having a lot in common in every relationship is key, as without it love or friendship will naturally fizzle out.

“Don’t die with the music still inside you,” is one of my favourite quotes by Wayne Dyer. This journey made me rediscover parts of me that I thought were lost forever and gave me the courage to embrace the music within and get to know the person I truly am.

Now as a Primal Health Coach, my mission is to empower women to become the best versions of themselves by offering guidance through the journey to physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The Primal way of life has nourished my body in all the right ways and made the best quality of life possible.

Izabela Misiuk, Primal Health Coach, ThriveInShanghai.com

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5 Unconventional New Year’s Resolutions You'll Actually Stick To

By Tiffy Kink

A new year is here and for many, it feels like a well-needed fresh start. And with that fresh start, we make resolutions. The biggest problem with New Year’s resolutions is that we have a tendency to set the same damn goals EVERY YEAR. Go to the gym more often, start going to the gym, lose weight, eat healthier, procrastinate less, and be more charitable to others. What makes it even worse is that we set time frames around our resolutions which do nothing but bring about added stress and anxiety, which is why we usually don’t complete them. I also find that as you start to have a harder time sticking to your resolutions, you may start to experience what I call “New Year Burn Out.” This occurs when you’re trying so hard to stick to your resolutions, that it starts to become more of a chore, rather than the inspiring moments you thought it would be. And for that reason, I want to share with you 5 Unconventional New Year’s Resolutions you’ll actually stick to!

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1. Be selfish when you need it.
-In 2017, Self-care, the idea of taking time out for yourself to do the things that you really love or just take care of yourself, became widely popular. Sometimes we are so wrapped up in ourselves and everything in between, that we don’t take the time out of the day to do something that thoroughly brings us joy. This could be anything from, going to your favorite restaurant, taking a personal day/mental break, or perfecting a skill. It becomes less of a resolution and more of task you look forward to doing, thus making it easy to stick to. 

2. Stop kee-keeing with people you don’t like.
-We all want friends. But not at the cost of hanging out or putting up with people you don’t like. You don’t have to love everybody and everybody doesn’t have to love you. It’s okay to allow people to leave your life and to leave theirs when you don’t feel like you’re getting the same love you're giving them. One of the biggest issues is we don’t know how to be alone sometimes and that can translate into putting up with people you don’t like. So unless it’s for professional reasons, you gotta get that coinage, let them go like that song from Frozen.

3. Stop setting unrealistic time frames to get stuff done.
- In the past, one of the biggest reasons I had a hard time with living up to the resolutions I made was because I gave myself a certain amount of time to get them done. Whether or not my timing was realistic, setting a deadline made me consider my resolution to be dreadful or feel a sense of failure if I didn’t get it done by a certain time. Instead, make resolutions with deadlines that have what I call a “Ball Park Time Frame.” This will allow you to set a more realistic time frame around completing your goals. And before setting said goals, think about all the other stuff you have going on in your life. Even when you feel like you may not complete your goals or resolutions in a timely manner, don’t give up. Keep working toward it to make progress.

4. Procrastinate less by actively working.
- I was one of those people who always believed that they had more time than they actually did to complete a task and this year showed me that I desperately needed to get out of that frame of mind. As a writer and student, procrastination kills me creativity and my production was almost nonexistent. One reason for that was how I saw my tasks. I viewed them as unpleasant and put them on the back burner until the pots started to overflow. A great way to procrastinate less is to start right away and with a plan. I find that organization helps with execution and lowers anxiety towards the task. It’s a learning process.

5. Don’t be charitable because you think you should, be charitable because you genuinely want to.
- Don’t make plans to do something nice because it’s the right thing to do. Do it because you want to. And what I mean by that is find different ways to help people. It doesn’t have to be the traditional volunteering or donating to a charity. Or it could be. If helping out or doing something in a big way seems to be too much for you, hence why you never get around to doing it in the first place, find unique ways to give back. Give up your seat on the subway, buy a homeless person a meal, become a mentor, or any other small selfless act of kindness. The idea of giving back means that you are doing it out of the kindness of your heart and that’s what counts. 

Do you find it hard to stick to new year's resolutions?

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About Tiffy 

Tiffy kink is a New York based Sex Blogger whose goal is to spread sex positivity and break down barriers for the sexually deprived and repressed through her blog posts and sex toy reviews where she not only talks about her interactions with sex and masturbation, but she also introduces her readers to body-safe sex toys and advice. If you like what you’ve read and would like to see more, visit her blog Aquakink.com. Follow her on Twitter @Theaquakink 

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Action Packed Film 'Down for Whatever' is Coming to TV One in 2018!

LeToya Luckett, Bre-Z, and Hosea Chanchez

By Mwabi Kaira

TV One recently announced production of the original film, 'Down for Whatever,' the network’s first film in the action-thriller genre. Written by Tim Folsome, the film is a 2017 American Black Film Festival  (ABFF) winning screenplay, that will star fan favorite and newly married LeToya Luckett as Tracy, a young successful doctor and her detective husband Mike will be played by Hosea Chanchez of 'The Game' fame. Production will take place in Atlanta, Georgia.

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The couple are happily married but a sense of family has always been missing in their relationship. Tracy grew up in foster care and longs for the traditional family environment that she never had. When Mike suddenly loses his partner in a senseless cop-killing, Tracy is there to support him. That is, until she receives an unexpected visit from a social worker who informs her that the ruthless killers suspected in the murder are her biological sisters, Denise, played by Bre-Z of Empire fame and Sonya played by Imani Hakim of Everybody Hates Chris fame. Tracy is overwhelmed and in disbelief by the news, but before telling her husband, she decides to track her sisters down herself. Will she make it to them before the cops do?

Taraji P. Henson as 'Proud Mary

It’s already been the year of black women taking names and snatching edges (Queen Maxine Waters and cousin Angela Rye) and TV One continuing it on into 2018 with us kicking butt on the screen is everything we need. 2018 will start it off with Taraji Henson in the movie Proud Mary and the trailer already has us yelling “Yes gurl!” at the screen. We already feel like superheros with all the saving we did in 2017 (Alabama Senate race anyone?), so yes please TV One, make us feel it more with ‘Down For Whatever.’

Remember how not too long ago, the only roles we saw black women in were as the best friend? Look at all our options now - comedy with Tracee Ellis Ross, Jenifer Lewis, and Issa Rae, drama with Kerry Washington, Rutina Wesley and Lynn Whitfield, talk shows like 'The Real,' 'Sister Circle,’ and ‘The Rundown With Robin Thede,’ and now action. It feels so good to have options.

'Down for Whatever' will premiere on TV One in July. Will you be watching?

Mwabi Kaira is an African girl navigating her way in an American world.  She is of Zambian and Malawian heritage and moved to the USA in 1993.  Writing has been her passion since she could put a sentence together on the page. Mothering her sons is her pride and joy.  She has been an avid runner since 2013 and has run 10 half marathons and a full marathon.  Keep up with her at http://ift.tt/2vLOcKn

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9 Signs You're Doing Better Than You Think You Are

By Ruu Hawkins

We all enter seasons in our lives where we feel like everything is coming to a head – life just won't let up. I, for one, experience this period of “WTF" every few years, or so. Most recently – last May to be exact – I had firmly set my feet back on the ground (financially) following a drought of sorts due to job loss, followed by inconsistent freelance work, and countless financial emergencies, which drained my life savings.

Following a move from the west coast to the east coast – I was now surrounded by family and friends – a longing I had carried for several years prior, as a young single mother. My daughters were adjusting nicely. I felt as though the storm was over. Only, within eight months of returning to my hometown life knocking at my door was a fresh basket of lemons. Once more, I was faced with uncertainty as both a mother and provider, after receiving a pay cut of 50 percent – with but a week's notice.

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What Collagen Does For Performance

I’ve always been a student of performance—in my athletic days and now. Whether it’s nutritional intake, training strategies, or supplement choices, this is where science comes to life for me. Over the years I made this interest work for my fitness performance and now for my optimal health. It’s not about “hacking” the body’s functioning but understanding it from the ground floor up. This knowledge helps me live and age through life more on my own terms, which is exactly the way I like it.

Every bit of research, every connection, every choice has done its part to fill in the picture for me—the daily practices and overall philosophy behind the Primal Blueprint.

In the last few years, collagen has been one of the tools that has made the biggest difference in my life. It was instrumental to recovering from an injury that (I was told) would put me on the sidelines indefinitely, and now it supports continuing joint health and mobility as I push myself physically long after many people give up on their bodies period.

Recently, Brad Kearns and I recorded a conversation about my interest in collagen—how I started applying it to my health, what it offers for fitness performance, and how anyone—athlete or not—can benefit. Take a look.

Thanks for stopping by today, everyone. Have questions, comments? Share them below, and have a great end to the holiday week.

The post What Collagen Does For Performance appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.

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Two Phenomenal 2018 Calendars Capturing Black Beauty Perfectly

P-Diddy & Naomi Campbell via PirelliCanlendar.com

By Winnie Gaturu

Over the centuries, human beings have always had the urge to track and measure time. In the past, this was done for various reasons such as predicting seasons for farming or hunting and planning for religious and cultural functions. The methods used to keep track of time revolved around observing the pattern and behavior of the sun, moon and stars. These methods have advanced over the years giving rise to our current calendar system. Although there are many calendars, the one that is most widely used is the Gregorian Calendar which was introduced in October 1582. Surprisingly, in this digital day and age, the Gregorian print calendar is still widely used and a common item in all households and offices. They also act as a convenient decor item especially if they have a photo theme.

With 2018 starting soon, here are two phenomenal calendars you might consider buying for the new year. Both capture black beauty perfectly and will make you feel proud of your roots! 

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Pirelli Calendar Cast

The 2018 Pirelli Calendar

For the first time ever, the Pirelli calendar is featuring an all-black cast. The cast on the calendar consists of black people from different parts of the world and different professions. We have musicians, actors, models and activists. Some notable names include Lupita Nyong'o, Whoopi Goldberg, Ru Paul, Naomi Campbell and Sean Combs. With an Alice in Wonderland theme, the director of the photoshoot, Tim Walker, wanted to tell the Alice in Wonderland story from a different point of view. The idea first came to him five or six years ago when he had gone to take a picture of Alicia, Roald Dahl’s wife (the creator of Charlie and the Charlie Factory), and she told him that originally, Charlie of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was written as a little black boy. This had him thinking how different the story could have been if the original script remained, and it eventually inspired him to do a black version of Alice in Wonderland. As a result, he pulled off an amazing photoshoot and created stunning photos that we can all enjoy. This calendar is definitely worth having in 2018, if for nothing else, to have a good laugh at the characters depicted. Like the two Royal Beheaders, Sean Combs and Naomi Campbell. 

P-Diddy & Naomi Campbell as the 'Royal Beheaders'

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Photo via Creativesoulphoto.com

The CreativeSoul Photography Afro Art Wall Calendar 2018

This calendar is simply stunning. It features photos of young black girls, wearing baroque inspired clothing and jewelry, proudly rocking their natural hair. The photos used in this calendar are part of an Afro Art series which was done by the Atlanta-based couple that owns CreativeSoul Photography.

Although the photoshoot was done one year ago, it recently gained recognition due to shout-outs from celebrities like Taraji P. Henson. The photos were shot in different parts of the country and featured black girls from the age of 4-13. Each girl had her natural hair styled to bring out a specific theme. The end product was simply stunning. The husband-wife photography team, wanted to show that beauty comes in different colors and textures. That's why their photos include black girls with different skin tones and hair texture. For them, photography is a way of storytelling and their aim is to depict black children in a light that mainstream media has yet to show. You should definitely get this calendar, especially if you have young girls in the house.

Photo via Creative Soul Photography IG

Now that you have a glimpse of what these two calendars contain, it is up to you to decide which one you’ll get for 2018.  

Will you be buying either of the two calendars?

 

Winnie Gaturu is a writer, tech lover, mom, wife and student from Nairobi, Kenya. During her free time, she loves trying out new recipes, diy projects, filling in crossword puzzles and spending time with her family. You can catch up with her on yourhairandbeautywrite.wordpress.com.

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Are Relaxed Edges With Locs A New Trend?

Photo via google

By Erickka Sy Savané
Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t think it true. Relaxed edges with locs? And just in case you're wondering how I knew this woman's edges were relaxed, I know relaxed edges. When you grow up from a young age getting relaxers, then start doing your own from early teens till your mid-twenties, you know relaxed edges. When you shave off your edges in high school with a hand razor because you over-processed them from too many kitchen relaxers, you know relaxed edges. Plus, this woman's 6-year-old daughter had relaxed hair, so it's not like she's anti-creamy crack. Maybe I'm being judgey, but this is a natural hair site, so safe to say that though women are free to make whatever hair choices they want, most of us are beyond putting relaxers in our daughter's hair, the burning scalp from the chemicals alone are enough to give one the chills...so I'm looking at this woman's locs, trying to figure out why she's relaxing her edges. But then again, I also find it odd that some women with natural hair are relaxing their edges, yet I'm seeing it more and more- with braids especially. So why not locs? Can’t they relax their edges too? 

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Bob Marley

I ponder the question. Of course, they can. But not everything that can be done is a good idea. Technically, #45 can be President. When I think of locs it just seems to go against the very nature of the hairstyle. I thought the idea was to embrace blackness. Picture Bob Marley rocking relaxed baby hair around the edges. I ask a friend his thoughts and he calls the woman in question a "fake Rasta."

But then again, who says that black folks who wear locs are making a political statement? What if it's just a hairstyle? I wore locs for years and I wouldn't say that I was repping for blackness. I loved how it looked and it was an easy transition out of relaxers. I put in two-strand twist extensions and let my hair lock into the twist over a period of some months. Eventually, I cut out the twist and was left with only my own locs, which I loved. 

Auset Ntru aka Taren Guy via IG

When you think about it, a lot of folks who wear locs never let their edges run free. One guy I know is in the salon every. single. week. getting. his. hair. retwisted because the Lenny Kravitz in his hay-day look is not what he's trying to emulate. Nor can everyone go for the free-form locs currently being worn by Auset Ntru aka Taren Guy, who stunned many of her natural hair followers when she ditched her signature curls for the free-form loc look. People have to go to work in professional environments, and realistically, for a lot of people who want locs, keeping it 'neat' is the only option. Who knows, for those who have really course hair, maybe relaxing or texlaxing their edges and even new growth is the only way to achieve a 'neat' loc look.

Over all, I have no idea if relaxing edges for locs is a thing that's been going on for a while, a new trend, or something tried by a single individual. How does the saying go, when someone has an idea there are usually six other people with the same idea? Things don't often happen in a vacuum so my guess is that there are others doing the same. At the end of the day, who am I to judge?

Do you have locs and do you relax your edges?

Erickka Sy Savané is managing editor of CurlyNikki.com, a wife and mom, based in Jersey, City. Her work has appeared in Essence.com,Ebony.com, Madamenoire.com and more. When she’s not writing...wait, she’s always writing! Follow her on Twitter and Instagram orErickkaSySavane.com

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Megan Is Naturally Glam And Hella Confident!

Megan L. McGlover via IG

Take one look at Megan L. McGlover, originally from Anaheim, California, currently residing in LA, and it's clear that confidence is not her issue. But it wasn't always that way, like many of us she struggled with what she calls 'a thick grade of "undesirable hair."' Natural for 15 years, and in school, find out how Megan made the transition to the confident Queen you see today, and what she learned from her Mama that she uses in everyday life!

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Megan's IG

What products do you use on your hair?
I use different products, to be honest. I was using Shea Moisture until they made that mistake. Sometimes I use the Curly Pudding by Miss Jessies’s, Curls products as well. I use the ICE gel because it’s alcohol free. While I think some products are better than others, what you put in your body trumps it all in my opinion. No pun intended!

Did you have any hair inspiration growing up?
Interestingly enough, growing up my hair inspirerers were my two sisters. My eldest was the queen of individual braids and my older sister did the corn-rolls and platted looks. I only started going to the shop to get my hair braided at the infamous “Braids of the 80’s” on Crenshaw when both sisters went to college and no one was left to do my hair… my Mother did not braid, she pressed the glory right out the hair. I’m sure I still have burn marks on my ears.

Megan's IG

How did you learn to do your hair?
We taught each other how to do hair. Because of my sisters, I have always done my own hair. I’ve had my locs for 15 years and have washed, twisted and styled them this entire time. It’s my hair and I’m proud of my crown. From teenage years, I braided my own hair, once spending 23 hours straight (except for bathroom breaks) braiding micro individuals. When I had a mohawk I faded my sides in my bathroom mirror, when I wore weaves, I installed them, I put weaves in my sister’s and Mother’s hair as well. So you’re asking, “Damn girl, why didn’t you open a shop?” LOL Doing hair is like being beautifully black or being great at sports, or being great in school, or being a good dancer, a great speaker… well duh of course you’re good at it, You Are Black! Doing hair in my humble but very proud opinion, is a natural knee-jerk talent because it is an Ancestral trait that is transferred down through our cell makeup and DNA. How do I know this is true? Because no one taught my sisters how to do what they did and Youtube wasn’t popp’in back then. So how did they figure it out? Who taught me to twist my locs, when I’m the only person in my family who has ever had them? Who showed me how to care for them? The Ancestors. Ase’

Megan's IG

How has having natural hair contributed to your life/self-esteem?
I decided to grow my locs because I wanted to be natural but my natural isn’t that, “throw water on your hair, slick it into a ponytail and roll” type of natural. Rather mine is the, “dial a friend to come over and hold one side down while you try to gather the other side, then ask yet another friend to hand you 3-bands!” kind. So the press and curl wasn’t working for me and I simply did not want to put in another perm. Because I rocked braids often, I was used to being natural, but I didn’t always want to spend the amount of time putting in braids and keeping them neat (that’s big for me). The other important factor was my workout schedule. I’ve always loved to workout and I sweat a lot. So there goes the press and curl. I’ll admit, I was nervous at first because I was so used to changing my hairstyles constantly, and being locked into locs was a true commitment.

Self-esteem… chile please! There is NOTHING better than telling someone, “No this is my real hair.” I had to reach back and kiss myself just now. There’s nothing wrong with extensions, there’s nothing wrong with any choice you make, but for me, a girl who grew up with a thick grade of “undesirable hair,” I never dreamed that I would one day have a ponytail that grazes my back pockets as I walk. I’m proud of my hair, I’m proud of my heritage, and that has come from my experience with locs.

Megan's IG

What's been the best part of your natural hair journey?
My journey has taught me more about me and much less about the need we may sometimes feel for others. Simply, we hold our own joy, we hold our own peace, we hold in our hands and our hearts… Our Own Beauty. Having natural hair has affirmed that. What I eat comes out in my hair, there’s no one I can blame for that. What I eat and drink comes out in my skin… there’s no one I can complain to about that. I hold Me in the very palm of My Hands… and that, my Sistahs is the best palm roll your hair can ever receive.

Megan's IG

 How do you stay fit?
As I’ve gotten older I like to run. I run from 3 to 5 miles a day and 10 to 12 on the weekends. I’ve always lifted weights and enjoyed exercise. It’s an INCREDIBLE way to relieve stress, to think, become clear, and it teaches others how to treat you. My dedication to myself usually intimidates those whom are not ready for loyalty. Not just in intimate relationships, but in general. Because they see that I do not “play” with myself, thus Don’t Play With Me.  I also love to cook. I mean I love to cook. My Mother was an excellent chef and through Her I have been able to understand flavor... almost like fashion (which I learned from Her as well). In Her designs she mixed and matched patterns, just like we mix and match flavors. In this way, I can be adventurous in the kitchen and stay healthy.

Love ya Long… Love ya Strong!

Megan L. McGlover

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If you'd like to be featured in Naturally Glam- whether you live here or abroad- submit your photos to naturallyglam@curlynikki.com and answer these questions!

1) Where are you from/live and how long have you been natural?
2) What products do you use on your hair?
3) If you have a business, are in school, have a blog, products you sell, a job in a field you'd like to talk about, have initiatives and organizations you'd like to highlight, advice to give, or family that you are proud of and want to share, please do.
4) How has having natural hair contributed to your life? Your self-esteem?
5) What's been the best part of your natural hair journey or your hair journey in general?

from Natural Hair Care | Curly Nikki http://ift.tt/2pPxK9A