Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 17

A Happy Thanksgiving Feast

Over the years, we’ve gathered quite a number of great Thanksgiving recipes and treats to cook up for the holiday, so here’s a quick list of options for your kind Thanksgiving feast.

This was my 2010 Thanksgiving Day menu. It was a very large crowd that year, I decided to prep as much as I could in advance and buy some pre-made. It turned out to be a yummy meal.

Still stuck on your menu for this year? Here are some more suggestions:

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If you just aren’t able or don’t want to cook this year, here are some of my favorite picks for restaurants in the LA and New York areas. I’d call beforehand to make sure they are serving up a Thanksgiving Day menu.

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And when the feasting is over and you feel like you may have indulged a little too much sweetness (it’s bound to happen), you could try my detox soup recipe. It’s light and healing. And you might also want to try this Cure-All Tea.

Top Photo: JHS

Why I Choose Cruelty-Free Vegan Makeup. Plus: My Go-To Natural Products.

With summer’s stickiness gone makeup is back in a big way. Makeup is a big part of my job as an actor, but my relationship with it is rather interesting. Especially because conventional makeup sucks! It can often be not great for our skin, clogging pores, and causing breakouts, —but that’s just the beginning.

Most of the chemicals in conventional makeup have been linked to serious health issues. These products are also not the greatest for the planet, either. And although it’s hard to believe, many conventional cosmetics are still tested on animals. Really!

Here’s what you need to know about makeup and which cruelty-free and vegan products are worth checking out.

Chemicals in makeup

Makeup is meant to be fun, right? Pops of color, dramatic eyes—it’s all part of the art of dressing up and having fun in our bodies. Which is why it’s even more startling just how toxic makeup can be. If the goal is to use it to have fun and show off our gorgeous selves, shouldn’t it be helping our bodies and not hurting them? I think so.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) among a number of other groups and experts in the field, there are contaminants in makeup linked to a number of health issues, including cancer. And, what’s even more shocking is that makeup (and other personal care items) have the least amount of government oversight even though we’re putting these products directly on our skin, on our lips, and eyes daily!

EWG says that since 2009, nearly 600 cosmetics manufacturers have reported using 88 chemicals, in more than 73,000 products with links to cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm.

There are 12 ingredients specifically that EWG says should be banned:

Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.Paraformaldehyde, a type of formaldehyde.Methylene glycol, a type of formaldehyde.Quaternium 15, which releases formaldehyde.Mercury, which can damage the kidneys and nervous system.Dibutyl and diethylhexyl phthalates, which disrupt hormones and damage the reproductive system.Isobutyl and isopropyl parabens, disrupt hormones and harm the reproductive system.The long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS, have been linked to cancer.M- and o-phenylenediamine, used in hair dyes, which irritate and sensitize the skin, damage DNA, and can cause cancer.

Manufacturers add these chemicals to makeup for lots of reasons: they maintain freshness, bind the products to prevent separation, they add color and fragrance, among other functions. But they come at a cost—our health and the senseless suffering of animals. But they don’t have to do this; there is another way, and that’s what we are about to share—better options for you and animals. Once I learned about all the chemicals, I decided I wanted nothing to do with them.

Animal testing

These unhealthy chemicals come with another side effect most of us want to avoid: testing on animals. Because these chemical ingredients are so inherently risky, companies must prove their safety. And that means some of the most awful and heartbreaking experiments on animals.

I have lobbied in California’s capital to help change the laws so there are no longer required tests for efficacy or safety. The Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act was passed in 2018 banning the sale of cosmetics tested on animals in the state. But many companies are still testing in the U.S. And if you buy anything that is also sold in China (even if you are buying the U.S. version), there are requirements there that mandate companies test their products on animals.

In 2019, China started to relax rules on post-market animal testing, and last year it moved to end mandatory testing on most big-name cosmetics, but it’s still required for a large number of manufacturers. It can’t end soon enough!  So even if the product you bought in the U.S. isn’t tested on animals, do you really want your dollars going to support a company that complies with testing rules in China?

Animal testing is a disgusting and devastating industry. And when you see that there are SO many companies making incredible products—often that perform better than the conventional stuff—made with safer ingredients that don’t require any testing, you realize just how easy it is to be done with this horrific practice.

Bonus: they are also planet friendly. Why? Because natural ingredients aren’t byproducts of fossil fuels. They don’t require the intense processing and refinings. And in many cases, they come from Fair Trade-sourced ingredients that support local communities and care for the earth. If these companies can do it, why can’t all of them?

I used to spend a lot of time looking for products not tested on animals. Now, it’s easier than ever. And a product with truly natural ingredients generally isn’t tested on animals—it makes no sense to test coconut oil on bunnies, right? But always read the labels to be sure or contact the manufacturer if you need more information.

How do you know if a product hasn’t been tested on animals? Most brands will tell you! It’s often a very visible label or logo on the packaging such as the Leaping Bunny or PETA cruelty-free logo—both also have databases you can search.

A quick note on cruelty-free and vegan labeling. Wonder why you’re seeing both of these on product labels? It’s a good question! Generally, cruelty-free means the product and its ingredients were not tested on animals. But that doesn’t mean the ingredients are all vegan. A common culprit is beeswax (read more on my thoughts about it here), which you find in a lot of mascaras. It’s not vegan. But some people are okay with a bit of it in their cosmetics versus the much more egregious stuff. There is also carmine, which is made by crushing a specific type of beetle for its red pigmented shells. Other animal ingredients in cosmetics that are less common include tallow (animal fat), lanolin (sheep wool oil), squalene (shark liver oil), gelatin (cow or pig bones, tendons or ligaments), allantoin (cow urine), ambergris (whale vomit), and placenta (sheep organs).YUMMY

My favorite cruelty-free and vegan cosmetics

Ilia

Color Haze Multi-Use Pigment in Temptation and Waking Up 

Fade Into You Finishing Powder

True Skin Serum Foundation 

Necessary Eyeshadow Palette in Cool Nude 

Tinted Lip Conditioner in Arabian Nights and Little Sister 

La Bella Donna

Duo Lip Crayon in Devotion

Loose Mineral Foundation 

Saie

Glowy Super Gel in Starglow

Brow Butter in Clear – contains beeswax

Liquid Lip Balm – contains beeswax

Zuzu

Eyeliner in Indigo

Mascara in Clear 

Alima Pure

Eye pencil in Coffee 

100% Pure

Pomegranate Oil Lipstick  

Hurraw

Lip balm in Watermelon and Black Cherry 

Pacifica

Stellar Gaze Mascara 

Sappho

Mascara in Black 

Gabriel

Blush

The 7 Best Vegan Chocolate Brands You Really Need to Try

Is there anything better than a rich, velvety smooth bite of chocolate? Of course not! I’ve tried them all and these are my favorite vegan chocolates, hands down. Whether you’re gifting them or eating them all yourself, you can’t go wrong with the offerings on this list.

What is chocolate?

We love it from childhood, but do we even know where chocolate comes from? It’s actually pretty fascinating stuff: Chocolate is the bean (seed) of the cacao fruit. Shaped like a small football, cacao pods grow on trees throughout Central and South America, as well as across Africa and Asia.

Why vegan chocolate?

Dairy is added to the vast majority of chocolate. And it’s totally not necessary! First of all, it makes chocolate inedible for a large percentage of the population as more than 65 percent of Black and Asian people are lactose intolerant. 

Even if you’re not lactose intolerant, dairy can cause health issues including congestion, inflammation, and acne, among other serious conditions.

But dairy is also an exploitative industry that keeps female cows pregnant and forced to give their milk away. Their babies are taken away from them (so humans can have the milk)—and for male calves, this often means a death sentence as a veal calf. Then, after years of milk production, cows aren’t sent to retirement, they’re slaughtered for cheap beef. 

Best vegan chocolates

These days, there are more vegan chocolate and confectionery options than ever before. Even Hershey’s and Cadbury now offer vegan chocolate. But if you want the best of the best, try these!

Amore di Mona has insane caramel. They also make versions of caramel with fruit inside like cherries, which are also so fantastic. Their dark chocolate is really good but I preferred their caramel. Their chocolate is Fair Trade, organic, and uses raw agave nectar.Chocolate Inspirations is so good its nuts. They have a whole section of vegan chocolates and brittles. The Artisan Italian Orange Bar and Artisan Organic Hummingbird Nectar Tea Bar are both crazy yum. Cinnamon Toast Toffee to cashew brittle to Peanut Butter Pillows, are they kidding me??? The English toffee is absolutely scrumptious as well.  I also love their hot chocolate, Sweet Buddy Bar, and their Chocolate Peanut butter pillows are insane!Hu – Hu is the best! My favorites are Cashew Butter + Raspberry Dark Chocolate, Hazelnut Butter Dark Chocolate, Chocolate-Covered Hunks Cashews + Vanilla Beans, and Chocolate-Covered Hunks Sour Goldenberries. Hu’s chocolates are sweetened with coconut sugar so after eating it you get a less buzzy sugar high!.Nohmad Snack Co.‘s Creamy Coconut Milk Cacao and Coffee Crunch Cacao bars are tasty and worth mentioning because of their simple clean ingredients: organic raw cacao, organic raw cacao butter, and organic maple sugar!Lagusta’s Luscious turtle bar is fun! If you’re a Snickers fan, it’s basically three snickers in one. Super heavy and yum! They also make this maple honeycomb bar that I love! If you’re familiar with the British candy bar “Crunchie Bar”, it’s very similar except vegan of course, with maple syrup and no honey! Added bonus, they’re both made of Fair Trade, organic, and non-GMO ingredients.Tony’s Chocolonely Dark Almond Sea Salt is great. The packaging looks so cool.Schmilk has several fun and tasty fair trade flavors; hazelnut, macadamia sea salt, Schmilk truffle, dark, maple, orange, and mint.

Photo by Julia Zyablova on Unsplash

My Thoughts on Beeswax: Is It Ethical?

I try hard not to use beeswax and would prefer that no one use it for a number of reasons. It is not vegan and is often not ethically sourced. Here’s what you need to know.

Bee life

Bees are smarter than we think and have a lot going on in their nervous systems. Like many animals, bees have a very good sense of sight, smell, and communication. According to the University of Arizona’s agricultural department, bees can see six “groups” of colors, including ultraviolet, a color that humans can’t see.

They can also smell each other’s pheromones, and rely on smell to signal danger, as well as to identify who is part of their hives. They use their antennae to sense the space around them, which comes in handy when they are building their honeycomb.

Beeswax | Unsplash

Bees experience life, do what they can to avoid pain and harm, and go after things that they want! Yes, they are bees, but they are creatures that deserve their natural right to life.

Bees are also crucial for our food system as top pollinators. Beekeepers truck nearly 2.4 million hives all over the country to track seasonal crops. This stresses the bees out and bombards them with pesticides and diseases that are present at the different locations where the trucks stop en route.

Beekeeping

Beekeepers can also go to nasty extremes to keep colonies going. They will replace honey (what bees eat) with corn syrup or refined sugar. Access to only a single food source weakens bees’ immune systems. In fact, studies show that bees who pollinate five crops have stronger immune systems than bees who pollinate just one crop, or subsist on just one type of nutrient.

Beekeepers will also cut off the Queen bee’s wings, keep her in a cage to stay away from a hostile hive (Queen bees are often transplanted to foreign hives from their home hives), or kill her off when egg production slows. And they will often use smoke to force the bees out of their hives. In 2006 millions of bees across the country vanished from their hives.

The documentary Silence of the Bees documents the struggles of modern bees. Kept bees are constantly working and not living their bee lives as they would if they remained undisturbed.

Is using beeswax okay?

All that said, I do need to give a disclaimer here. I would personally rather support a natural skincare line that has beeswax in it than a company that is vegan but uses tons of chemicals. That’s just my personal feeling.

You have to remember that these chemicals we see in so many products on the market are hurting the planet, hurting us, and hurting animals as well (by destroying their habitats). The more we support natural products, the less damage we do to the environment, to ourselves and to animals.

Bee | Unsplash

Of course, I prefer that a beauty product line be as natural as can be, and be vegan and free of beeswax…but sometimes a pretty great line will have one or two ingredients that are less than ideal (i.e. carmine or beeswax, both not nice).

Nowadays, we can write letters to companies and ask them why they use these ingredients and ask them to use something else instead. Maybe they’ve never tried to do it another way and with your help, will consider alternatives. Either way, it’s always good to be an engaged consumer.

In the end, it’s all about finding the best possible solution, under all given circumstances. I will continue to search for the perfect solution and appreciate the best ones or the best-for-now ones in the meantime. This is why some of the products I have listed around the website have beeswax in them or insects – because they are the “best for now” options.

Organic beeswax

A word about organic beeswax – regulations are not well-defined, and because bees often forage 1-2 miles from their hives, it is hard to control their contact with pesticides. Companies producing organic beeswax do claim that they keep their bees away from chemicals or pesticides. But as far as the bees are concerned, the “organic” label does not address practices that are hurtful to the bees – only practices that would be potentially harmful to humans (e.g. exposure to pesticides and chemicals). That’s an important distinction to keep in mind whenever assessing natural or organic products.

Of course, there is so much more for me to learn on this subject, but this is where I sit with the info I have now. Stay tuned as I learn more.

Photo source: Treesha Duncan

7 Vegan Halloween Recipes for a Sweet, Cruelty-Free Celebration

Halloween is approaching! There are many many ways to take this commercial holiday and celebrate the fall occasion kind style with loved ones. Since there’s so many festivities around this time of year, with the emphasis on treats… I’m listing some insane-looking sweets from various vegan blogs. For some eco ideas and background info on how this holiday came to be,  check out How to Have a Green Halloween.

Vegan Halloween Treats

1. Kitty Cat Halloween Cupcakes from Growing Up Veg

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Raw “Witches Fingers” from Fork and Beans

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2. Pumpkin Seed Bonbons from The Misfit Baker

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3. Halloween Whoopie Pies from Ricki Heller

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4. Chocolate Pumpkin Cups from The Glowing Fridge

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5. Gingerbread Skeleton Cookies from Sarah Bakes

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6. DIY Vegan Candy Corn from Earth Balance

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7. Pumpkin Bread, with chocolate chips! From The Kind Diet

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Lead photo by Paige Cody on Unsplash

Kind Classics: How to Fall in Love With Dark, Leafy Greens

Dark leafy greens are some of the healthiest foods we can eat. Loaded with vitamins and minerals, they also taste amazing, are versatile, and kids love them. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy them.

Whenever I have kale with umeboshi vinegar and flaxseed oil I think, “My God, if people aren’t eating this, they are crazy!”

If you haven’t been using the ume-flax combo on greens, you are missing out! It is just so delicious. Of course, sometimes greens like kale, collards, or bok choy are good on their own – especially for superheroes. But when you feel like your greens need a little extra kick, you must put a tad of umeboshi vinegar and a bit of flaxseed oil on them. Yum! The Bok Choy and Ume Vinaigrette recipe in my book (p. 264-265) will do the trick, and ume-flax dressing is insane with cabbage, leeks, and toasted sunflower seeds too.

Also, if you are afraid or new to greens, and they sound disgusting to you, this will cure you! Try some greens with my Tahini Dressing (p. 263), Basic Ume Vinaigrette (p.172), or the Ume Sesame Dressing (p.262-263) from my book – I’m pretty sure if you hate greens, and you put one of these sauces on them, you’ll love ’em. And, of course, your body will too!

Remember to eat greens at least once a day – the dark leafy ones. Iceberg lettuce doesn’t count! I’m not talking Swiss chard or spinach, I’m talking Chinese cabbage, kale, bok choy, or collards. Swiss chard and spinach are fine for vegans but not something superheroes want to eat frequently (no more than 1-2 times per week). For info on why, see p. 64 of The Kind Diet.

There is a whole world of green goodness waiting for you.

Check out this recipe for kale with umeboshi.

And this one for vegan Reuben sandwiches wrapped in collard greens—it’s a great one for kids.

 

How to Eat Macrobiotic for a Healthy, Delicious Autumn

Fall is such a wonderful time of year. The changing leaves (even here in Los Angeles!), the smell of cooler weather in the air, warming soups, seasonal veggies, and those special family gatherings.  And who doesn’t love a fashion season of forgiving oversized coats and sweater dresses? Yes, please. But how do you prepare for the cooler season? Can a macrobiotic diet help?

Before you go nuts over pumpkin spice lattes (but not at Starbucks!)  and holiday cocktails this year, these are some of my favorite macrobiotic tips to help prepare yourself for a happy, healthy autumn and winter.

What is a macrobiotic diet?

First things first: I talk a lot about eating a ‘superhero’ AKA macrobiotic diet—it’s a way of life for me. It may sound complicated, but it’s actually a fairly simple concept: eating with the seasons to keep things in balance. 

The diet—which isn’t a diet in the fad weight-loss sense—(“diet” back in the day meant a way of life) is built around whole grains, local fresh veggies, sea vegetables like nori, kelp, and dusle, and legumes and  beans. You can also eat seasonal fruits, nuts, seeds, in moderation. 

There are more nuances to eating macrobiotic, but that’s the gist of it. Avoid the processed stuff, let whole foods fill up your plate, and see if you don’t feel better than ever. Of course, it’s also okay to have a veggie burger or pizza every once in a while, too. But when you keep your body in balance with the seasons for the most part, everything seems to just work better.

Benefits of a macrobiotic diet 

When our bodies are healthy and in harmony with the seasons, this can mean a stronger immune system. No diet can make us germ-proof, but our immune system thrives in a healthy body.  

Eating a macrobiotic diet may also help improve and speed recovery time should you find yourself sick with any seasonal virus. Because a macrobiotic diet is aimed at bringing balance to the body, it may help you sleep better and more soundly, which is important if you’re fending off a virus, too. It can also help to regulate mood, especially if you struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder.

And I can speak personally about the glow-up macrobiotic eating has given to my skin. Antioxidant-rich foods with high water content help keep your skin hydrated and looking good, even in the dull, dry winter weather. And when you reduce the processed, over-salted, over-sugared junk most of us love to eat, your skin will thank you, too.

The Kind Diet is a great guide for how to eat for your healthiest, most vibrant self. And my ‘superhero’ section is essentially the Cliff Notes version of the macrobiotic diet so you can access it easily and deliciously! I think it’s a great entry point and there are lots of fun dishes to try, especially this time of year.

How to eat Macrobiotic for autumn

Ready to get started? Here are some of my favorite tips for eating macrobiotic in the autumn season.

1. Eat warming things: When the weather is cooler we need to get the warmth from the inside out. This means warm liquids packed with healthy nutrients. My favorite warming go-to soups include miso, lentil, squash, and veggie soups. You can also do creamy-based soups made with nondairy bases like soy, oat, or nut milk. For extra superhero credit, make creamy soups by puree. You don’t even need to add milk, which makes it yummy but tiny less healing.

2. Load up on the seasonal vegetables: Truth be told, this is simple to do in Los Angeles where so much is grown locally in California. But this time of year I look for all manner of squash—there are so many!—, my favorite sweet potatoes and other root vegetables like carrots and turnips. Most important though: greens. Lots and lots of dark leafy greens like collards, bok choy, and cabbage. (check out my favorite kale dish here).

3. Embrace grains: Ready to ditch the carbs-are-bad myth once and for all? Carb-rich whole grains support gut and heart health and boast vitamins and minerals crucial to keeping your immune system working properly. This time of year it’s great to eat short grain brown rice, whole grains like millet, barley, and oats.

4. Beans, beans!: Legumes and beans are so good for our bodies and the planet. Lentils, for example, are heart-healthy for us—and the soil as they’re nitrogen fixers. Make hearty lentil soups, a lentil loaf or burger, or serve alongside steamed greens and rice for a deliciously warming meal. And be sure to check out all of the other great beans. Make delicious hummus from garbanzo beans, pintos for refried in tacos or burritos or quesadillas.

5. Seaweed: Seaweed is some of the most nutrient-dense food available. It is loaded with minerals from the ocean and brings so much flavor and umami to any meal. This time of year I love to sprinkle toasted nori on soup and rice, add dulse to stews, or make a kanten pudding. (You can try mine here. It’s made with late summer strawberries but you can swap to autumn fruits like apples or pears.)

6. Eat for your mood: Is the coming chill of winter causing anxiety? Are you feeling sad or stressed? There are some foods that may help. Try millet with garbanzo or aduki beans, carrots and squash or a kuzu recipe (try my kuzu tea here) to help calm and soothe stress and anxiety. For a seasonal mood boost, try miso soup, brown rice, lentil, tofu, steamed greens, toasted seeds, ginger, onion, or cooked seasonal fruits like stewed apples.

Want to learn more about macrobiotic eating? Check out the Kind Diet for more info.

How to Build Collagen Naturally for Healthy, Glowing Skin

There are all kinds of collagen products on the market, but what exactly is collagen and what does it do? Is it really beneficial to your skin? Do you need collagen or nutrients to help build collagen naturally?

What is collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and is often described as the glue that holds everything together. It’s mostly found in fibrous tissues such as tendons, ligaments, and the dermis of the skin where it acts as a structural scaffold.

Collagen, along with elastin and keratin, are the three key “beauty” proteins in the body. Its key structural protein works with elastin to provide the skin with strength, smoothness, and elasticity, while keratin is what protects the outer layer of the skin and makes up 95 percent of our hair.

When we are young, we have an abundance of these three proteins, which is why children and teenagers have beautiful shiny hair and smooth, supple skin. As we age, our body’s production of collagen and other structural proteins starts to slow down, our skin starts to lose its elasticity, and we start to notice sagging skin and wrinkles.

Do collagen supplements work?

If you’ve ever watched TV or walked down a pharmacy aisle, I’m sure you’ve observed the countless anti-aging creams that highlight collagen, claiming to plump up the skin and suggest turning back the clock. Seems appealing right? But what most people don’t realize is that collagen is a fairly large molecule that can’t be absorbed whole through the skin, so most of these creams simply stay on the skin and do not build collagen within the body.

In addition to lotions, dietary supplements for collagen-building have become popular but just like collagen skin creams; whole collagen supplements cannot be absorbed. But here’s the bottom line: You can’t eat or slather on collagen to build collagen. You need to help your body create collagen.

How to build collagen naturally

Eating a diet rich in clean plant protein and filled with vitamins (especially A, C, E, and the B’s), minerals (zinc and silicon), and other co-nutrients can help build your body build collagen. I have seen this evidence firsthand. I credit a vegan diet 100 percent for improving my health and wellness, and making my skin and hair more radiant than ever. While I get nutrition directly from the whole foods I eat, the prospect of having a handy vitamin safety net filled with nourishing and youthful goodness excites me! And I know I’m not alone. For consumers who want to supplement to support hair and skin, I wanted to provide something clean that actually works, so you don’t waste your money and get tricked.

It’s why I created mykind Organics Certified USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Vegan Certified, Gluten-Free Certified Plant Collagen Builder. It is made from more than 30 real, nutritious organic, family-farmed whole food foods—with specifically chosen ingredients to help support the body’s own collagen production. We only use natural and organic ingredients, including:

– Silica from 100% Certified Organic and All Natural Bamboo Extract; bamboo shoots are excellent sources of protein, supplying a variety of minerals, including silica.
– Organic Amla Berry: amla serves up a healthy helping of whole food vitamin C, a vital co-nutrient for collagen production in the skin. Plus, it protects cells and skin from nasty free radicals, helping to prevent signs of natural aging.
– Pomegranate: pomegranate is an antioxidant/ polyphenol (polyphenol is a term for the several thousand plant-based molecules with potent antioxidant properties) superstar! Antioxidants provide numerous health benefits, while polyphenols are beneficial for proper enzyme and cell receptor function. Among other things, high polyphenolic pomegranate supports skin health and protection from UV damage.
– Organic Rooibos and Organic Green Tea: rooibos is a herb with 50 times more antioxidants than green tea, is known to fight free radicals and is rich in vitamin C, tannins, and minerals—all of which can support healthy, glowing skin, healthy teeth and bones. The Green Tea is decaffeinated through a water extract so there’s so stimulating caffeine effect (and no chemicals), just antioxidants.
– Biotin; is actually vitamin B7, it’s sometimes referred to as vitamin H – for hair – and is commonly found in supplements for hair, skin, and nails. This biotin comes from flowering plants in the pea family, called Sesbania, a clean, pure biotin source.
– Organic Turmeric; turmeric’s active ingredient is curcumin—a powerful antioxidant supporting healthy aging by inhibiting the breakdown of cells, including skin cells.

Stay healthy!

Love,

Alicia

The 5 Best Foods That Fight Migraines

Migraine headaches affect 25 percent of the female population and about 8 percent of the male population. Most people who suffer from migraines head straight for the medicine cabinet, but there are foods that can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. These are the best ones.
A while back, Kind Lifer Melissa shared her story about overcoming her migraines by cutting out cheese. When following the kind or superhero diet, you will notice a dramatic difference. Seriously. I use to get severe migraines as a kid. The pain was so unbearable! I have memories of praying so intensely for it to stop because it would hurt so bad. Thankfully, I have not had one since I changed my diet to a kind one. If you follow a kind diet but still get migraines, try going superhero and that should do the trick. If they continue, I recommend you see a macrobiotic counselor.
For now, here are five foods that help fight migraines.

1. Millet

Millet contains migraine-preventing magnesium. Try it for breakfast in my millet and sweet vegetable porridge.
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2. Flaxseed

The research is still in its infancy but flaxseed is high in omega-3s and some studies have shown that Omega-3s can reduce the frequency of migraines
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3. Olive Oil

At least one study concluded that Olive Oil (also high in omega-3s) reduced the length, intensity, and duration of migraine attacks in adolescents.
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4. Spinach

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is a major weapon in the battle against migraines. Spinach has some of the highest amounts of riboflavin among other vegetables*.

5. Water

Dehydration is a common trigger for migraines, so before you reach into the medicine cabinet, or start chowing down, make sure you’ve had your H2O!
Other foods believed to fight migraine headaches are peppermint, cayenne pepper, ginger, wheat germ, soy, and many dark leafy vegetables.

*Spinach has high levels of riboflavin- but just remember to be mindful of eating it 1-2 times a week (and not daily). This is because it contains low levels of oxalic acid, a naturally occurring acid that can interfere with calcium absorption. There are many other riboflavin-rich veggies such as asparagus, broccoli, and peas that can be substituted.Photo Credit: , Acico Foods, How Stuff Works, & Fairway Market

My Favorite Vegan and Natural Hair Styling Products That Work

Good natural hair products are always hard to come by… and once you find ones that you love it’s very comforting.

Scott, a hairdresser that has worked with me a lot in the past, has recommended some great products. He was also kind enough to answer some other questions for me.

What products do you use and why? What are your considerations when choosing products?
I use a variety of products depending upon my clients’ needs, however I always try to use conscientious choice as there is really no reason not to. Many of the larger companies have come a long way and adhere to cruelty-free practices and, in many cases, vegan or vegetarian ingredients. It just takes a little diligence to read the packaging and make a smart decision.

Bumble & Bumble makes a full line of cruelty-free products which are fantastic and with a few exceptions, mostly beeswax, they are vegan as well. The same goes for Aveda, but I have to admit that the fragrances are a little overwhelming sometimes. Giovanni and Jason, both carried at Whole Foods, are also terrific, but as with Aveda and other “natural” products, these have a more limited shelf life and last longer if refrigerated.

I also tend toward a natural alternative whenever possible. Pure shea butter makes a spectacular pomade. I use it for piece-y looks and to smooth frizziness. A little goes a long way. Pure aloe vera gel makes a great hair gel and when mixed with rosewater makes a great spray-on blow-dry product. Adds thickness and shine with no alcohol! Also, glycerine and rosewater can take the place of serums to calm naturally curly hair and reduce frizz.

Why did you decide to go vegan?
I was raised in a very meat-friendly household, with more than one choice of meat for every meal. As soon as I left home as a teenager I became vegetarian, and have just naturally evolved into a vegan lifestyle from there. I was never a fan of my many meat options and have always been a lover of all animals, so it just seemed like the right trajectory for me. It certainly was a philosophical decision first and a health benefit by coincidence.

I have now been vegetarian/vegan for over 40 years and have certainly reaped the long-term benefits in my health, weight control, skin, etc…I try not to be preach-y about it and always felt that did more harm than good. I try only to live by example and work to educate my friends, co-workers and clients gently and with love.

Take a look at what Scott recommends:

Giovanni was started by Arthur Giovanni, a Beverly Hills salon owner. Giovanni makes a full line of cruelty-free, organic, and vegan products, and you can find them at Whole Foods and other major retailers. Everything from shampoos and conditioners, to styling and finisher products you can find here.

I’ve been using a couple of Giovanni products recently, and they are great. One of the products, Vitapro Fusion, protects my ends from hairdryer heat, calms down frizz, and smoothing funny flyaways.

MOP (Modern Organic Products) makes Scott’s favorites, the C-System. All organic and food-based ingredients, these products can be found in tons of salons and beauty supply stores.

Aveda makes tons and tons of products for every type of hair and hair need, it just depends on what you need. Their products aren’t always vegan, but Aveda avoids chemicals when they can, and most of their products are derived from natural ingredients. My favorite Aveda product for my hair is the Volumizing Tonic. After I shower at night, I sleep on my damp, washed hair that I wrap into a loose bun. Then, in the morning, I spray a little of this on my hair if I’m going somewhere spunky, and my hair gets that tasseled and textured look.