the blog.
Why You Need Blackstrap Molasses In Your Life
Blackstrap molasses. Sounds like something you wouldn't want to put in your mouth. But what if I told you that you should, and everyday? Find out why you're missing out if you're not taking blackstrap religiously after the jump!
Blackstrap molasses. Sounds like something you wouldn't want to put in your mouth. But what if I told you that you should, and everyday? Find out why you're missing out if you're not taking blackstrap religiously after the jump!
First things first, what is blackstrap molasses?
Blackstrap is just one type of molasses. Molasses is the byproduct of removing the sugar from sugar cane juice by boiling. The first boiling produces light molasses (the sweetest type) and second boiling produces dark molasses (the mid-sweetness type). This is because each time the juice is boiled, more sugar is extracted - rendering the left over substance (molasses) less sweet.
Blackstrap molasses is a result of the third boiling, making it thicker, darker, and the least sweet. It is more bitter than regular or light molasses, but also has incredible health effects - as its vitamin and mineral content has been highly concentrated.
The benefits of blackstrap molasses...
...are plentiful. Just one tablespoon of blackstrap molasses is only 60 calories yet carries a serious nutritional punch with:
- 21% of your recommended daily intake of potassium (important for a healthy nervous system and preventing arthritis);
- 10% of your recommended daily intake of calcium (essential for bone health);
- 15% of your recommended daily intake of iron (vital for the creation of red blood cells);
- 10% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin B6 (another piece of the red blood cell puzzle), and;
- 8% of your recommended daily intake of magnesium (used in conjunction with calcium for bone production and maintains heart heath).
It has also been noted, anecdotally, that consumption of blackstrap molasses improves hair and skin health due to its copper content, approximately 14% of your recommended daily intake, which aids in cell rebuilding. It also contains manganese and zinc, both essential to good health.
Not enough for you? The vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in blackstrap molasses are speculated to:
- soften stool (and therefore improve bowel movement regularity and quality);
- reduce skin aging,
- improve skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis, and;
- help prevent cancer.
So now that you're convinced that you SHOULD take it...
How much do you need?
Most recommendations are for between 1 and 2 tablespoons a day. Depending on the nutrient density of your diet you should adjust blackstrap intake accordingly (aka those who eat a whole food plant based diet may only need 1 tbsp, while junk food vegans may want to take 2!)
How do you take it?
Some like to mix it into a glass of warm water for a mineral tonic, while others simply spoon it into their mouths and chase it with water or another drink! I like to maximize my iron absorption by chasing it with a juice or smoothie that's high in vitamin C.
I hope you'll consider picking up some organic blackstrap molasses and adding it to your daily routine!
Until next time,
What's a healthy habit that you do everyday? Let me know in the comments below!
Read some more about Blackstrap Molasses or...
Review: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara (Vegan & Cruelty-Free)
Today is the day we've all been waiting for... I am FINALLY getting to cruelty-free and vegan beauty product reviews! As of right now I am planning on doing my own makeup for my wedding in September, which means a LOT of product testing - and I'm taking you along for the ride! After using this much-hyped about mascara for over two months, I feel as though I'm ready to give you the full lowdown. Check it out after the jump!
Today is the day we've all been waiting for... I am FINALLY getting to cruelty-free and vegan beauty product reviews! As of right now I am planning on doing my own makeup for my wedding in September, which means a LOT of product testing - and I'm taking you along for the ride! After using this much-hyped about mascara for over two months, I feel as though I'm ready to give you the full lowdown. Check it out after the jump!
What Too Faced has to say about it...
'Take home our Better Than Sex mascara and all your desires for lush, incredibly intense lashes will be fulfilled. One application of our collagen-fueled formula and touch of our specially shaped brush will leave you begging for more. One coat and lashes are full, defined and stretched to unbelievable lengths. Two coats and they’re reaching unbelievable heights of drama. Three coats and you’ll believe in magic.
More to love...
- Film-forming Polymer for smudge-proof, all day wear
- Acacia Senegal Tree Extract to nourish, thicken and lock curl in place
- Unique Peptides for the deepest, intense black possible
- 1,944% more volume*
- 100% saw longer lashes**
- 100% saw dramatic volume**
- 93% saw base-to-tip curl**
- 8 out of 10 say it’s the best mascara they’ve ever used**
- 3.4 out of 10 say great lashes are better than sex**
- 3.1 out of 10 agree that this mascara is so good, it’s better than sex**
- Vegan Friendly
- *results observed in a clinical study.
- **results observed in a consumer study.' (from toofaced.com)
Cost: $30-35 CAD
Vegan? Yes!
Cruelty-Free? Yes!
What I have to say about it...
The Good
- Holds curl well over the course of the day;
- Gives my lashes a very deep black colour;
- Lengthens noticeably;
- Adds significant volume, and;
- You don't need a lot - one coat for beautiful lashes, two for dramatic ones!
The Bad
- This mascara can get very clumpy if you don't scrape the excess mascara off of the brush before applying (and sometimes even if you do);
- It is definitely never going to give a natural look (it's not particularly versatile, even one light coat (the middle image above) is dark and dramatic);
- It won't give your lashes a nice curl if you don't use an eyelash curler before and/or after application;
- The formula is very wet and will smudge easily after you first apply it until it dries (the first 5 minutes or so - so don't sneeze!), and;
- It doesn't define the lashes as it claims to - I found the brush to be too full for that and the formula too wet.
The Ugly
- This mascara flakes (crumbles) onto the under eye area within a couple of hours of application and smudges when you try to wipe the flakes away. To be fair, Too Faced never claimed this formula was flake-free - but I would consider that to be a given for any high-end mascara. There is also, of course, the fact that the flaking leads to smudging if you're not VERY careful, which they specifically state their formula won't do.
RATING: 3/5
Final Thoughts: I've enjoyed using this as my daily mascara and absolutely love the length and volume it gives, but I do find the flaking to be a very irritating factor. As I always use an eyelash curler and like more dramatic lashes, the other cons don't really bother me - but due to the flaking I don't feel confident using this mascara on my wedding day. It really is too bad, because otherwise this would be a serious contender!
Would I recommend? I would definitely recommend this mascara if you like a more dramatic look and don't mind keeping tabs on your makeup throughout the day!
Have you tried Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara? What did you think? Is there a vegan and cruelty-free product you'd like me to review? Let me know in the comments below!
Also, be sure to check out my list of cruelty-free beauty brands before you head on your next shopping trip!
Until next time,
20 Things I Don't Miss About Eating Animals
As I approach the start of my fourth year as a vegan, I find myself thinking a lot about how much my life has changed over the past 3 years. I begin to think of all the things that I no longer feel, think, or experience on a day to day basis since deciding to forgo animal products. As many of my readers are new vegans or veg-curious, I think this is an interesting list to share!
As I approach the start of my fourth year as a vegan, I find myself thinking a lot about how much my life has changed over the past 3 years. I begin to think of all the things that I no longer feel, think, or experience on a day to day basis since deciding to forgo animal products. As many of my readers are new vegans or veg-curious, I think this is an interesting list to share!
Let's get onto the list! BUT FIRST... One thing I want to make clear is that I am NOT commenting on anyone other than myself and my own experiences in this post. Just because I have done, felt, or experienced something does not mean I think everyone else does, feels, or experiences the same things. I am not judging anyone, pointing fingers, or criticizing anyone else. I am merely sharing the interesting changes I have noticed in and around myself through reflection over time.
Phew. Ok. List time! (Excuse the copious amounts of memes. They're just so perfect.)
20 things I don't miss about eating animals...
1. The bloating. Ugh. I spent most of the time very very bloated when I still ate meat, dairy, and other animal products. And let me tell you, it wasn't any fun. Pretty much constant puffiness in my belly region, despite being slim and a dancer. Now I'm not saying I never get bloated now, of course I do - I am human, after all! From time to time after eating a more processed vegan meal, or eating too much food too quickly, or while on my period, I will get bloated. But the bloating is far less extreme and painful, and thankfully goes away much much quicker. (And no, beans don't cause crazy bloating. If you experience that it's likely that your body isn't used to the high fibre content and cannot process it properly. The more fibre you eat (and/or the more often you eat beans) the less bloating you'll experience as your body becomes accustomed.)
2. Seeing dead flesh as edible. I mean, how gross is that when you actually stop and think about it? And while we're at it, the texture of meat. Because, ew.
3. Those extra 15 pounds. I hit puberty pretty late, just as I was leaving high school. The natural changes in my body were amplified 2,000% by the terrible diet of beer, pizza, and processed foods I began eating at college (made up of LOTS of meat and dairy). I graduated feeling larger than I ever had and feeling uncomfortable in my body. In the first couple of months as a vegan (even though I pretty much only ate vegan junk food and meat and dairy substitutes) I lost 15 pounds, just like that. Veganism for the win!
4. The cognitive dissonance. I enjoy the newfound clarity I have achieved in lining up what I believe with reality, rather than trying to marry the thought of happy cows, chickens, and pigs with the realities of the industry (of which I was aware, as most are, though ignoring it with all my might). I am no longer wilfully ignorant, nor trying to maintain a paradox in my mind. What a relief!
5. The cheese addiction. It was pretty serious. I would eat a whole block of aged cheddar in a sitting. I would eat an entire bowl of parmesan cheese on its own with a spoon. Literally. I don't believe any addiction is healthy, and while cheese may not seem to be as destructive as cigarettes or drugs and alcohol, I do not want to feel dependant on any substance to get through the day. Plus, dairy isn't great for anyone involved.
6. Being poor. Not only is buying meat and cheese expensive (puh-lease to everyone who complains that eating a vegan diet costs more... eating animals is not cheap!), but spending money on eating out every single day just because I can eat at any random restaurant or fast food joint (of which there are 47 billion within a 4 block radius in every major city in the world) does no good for the wallet, either. Being vegan fixes that problem pretty darn quick!
7. The moral inconsistency. It was confusing to spend 19 years of my life as a serious animal lover, and yet to take pleasure in the products of animal suffering. I don't like being confused. Being certain about where I stand on the subject of animal rights feels so much better.
8. Not caring about the environment. Other than a general avoidance of littering, my environmental consciousness was limited to putting paper in the recycling rather than the trash. Now I get to say that I am saving gallons of water, acres of land, and loads of resources with my daily choices as well as reducing funding for the number one cause of greenhouse gas emissions (animal agriculture).
9. Constipation and other digestion issues. I'm now a well-oiled machine, without the oil.
10. Worrying about getting sick from raw or rancid meat. This was a serious cause of anxiety for me on a daily basis. What if I didn't clean my cutting boards well enough? What if the meat expired yesterday but I didn't notice? It's nice to feel safe in my own kitchen.
11. Having to know someone for a long time to realize who they really are. Now I find out pretty darn fast. Like when the fact that I'm vegan comes up in conversation and the first thing they say is some sort of insult or insensitive comment.
Also...
12. The lack of purpose. I wasn't a robot before I went vegan. I had opinions. I cared about stuff. I was passionate about things. But I didn't really have direction. Going vegan gave me a tangible goal, an area in which I could make a real difference in the world - and that is seriously motivating!
13. Being a follower. I'm not just like everyone else anymore. I don't do things just because they're normal or just because it's what's expected of me. I do what I want. I go my own way. I live my life the way I feel is right, no matter what the majority is doing. And that is incredibly liberating.
14. Not being a a discerning shopper. GMOs, pesticides, high-fructose corn syrup, lists of chemicals so long I can't read them in one breath... none of it mattered. When you go vegan, though, you kind of have to read every ingredient label. And that ended up being pretty awesome, because the more labels I read, the more I became concerned about all of the ingredients in my food, not just the animal ones. (This also applies to clothing, beauty products, home products, and more!)
15. Not feeling a part of a larger community of like-minded individuals. Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, vegans are everywhere and we make it a family affair wherever we go! I love how much we support each other and lift each other up. Also, finding out someone you've known for a while is vegan...
...is like finding out you're both part of some super-secret-awesome club.
16. Accepting (pretty much) everything I was told at face value. Yeah. I'm over that. I'd prefer to decide for myself what I believe.
17. Not caring about my health. I was young. Teenagers don't tend to take notice of their health. They're so resilient that they don't have to. But even still, I was constantly getting sick, getting injured, and feeling off. Since going vegan? I still get the occasional cold (maybe one a year). I've had a dance injury or two. I have low-energy days. But on the whole? My health is noticeably superior in every way.
18. Not standing up for myself. I used to be a people-pleaser. An apologizer. Now I don't let people take advantage of me, put me down, or disrespect me without a word or two. I've to stand up for myself so often that I've become a pro. And that's not a bad thing.
19. Not getting to hear the hilarious things people say to vegans. Seriously, people crack me up. Also, not getting to educate people on very basic, common sense things such as... drumroll please... plants contain protein. Or even better, cows don't just produce milk constantly for human production. They actually have to give birth to a calf, first. Since they, you know, only produce milk so that their babies can live. Like every other mammal in the world, including your mom. Yeah, crazy, I know.
20. Who I was. I've learned so much, not only about the world, politics, industry, our society, nutrition, health, and the way the human mind works, but about myself. I used to be pretty self absorbed. And I hid who I really was from pretty much everyone. Now I shout it from the rooftops. Because we only live once, why spend our short time on earth pretending to be someone we're not to please people we don't even necessarily like? Being true to yourself and leading by example is the most important thing you can do in life.
I hope you enjoyed this slight departure from my usual programming. Let me know what you think in the comments below!
Until next time,
For all my vegans out there, what don't you miss about eating animals that I forgot to mention?
A great one to follow this one up with is my 10 Reasons To Go Vegan post!
Not your thing? Check out one of my many other blog posts below.
2016 Reading List
Hello friends!
I'll be honest with you, I have always been a voracious reader. But in 2015? Not so much. I had so much going on working at sea, getting engaged, moving, starting my blog, getting two new jobs, and two kittens, that reading took a backseat to the craziness that was my life! But 2016 is going to be different. No matter what life throws my way I'm going to make reading a priority.
There is almost nothing else I find as inspiring as reading a good book. They allows me to relax, escape, learn, and keep my mind sharp. They are my safe, cozy, happy place. And who doesn't want to be more safe, cozy, and happy?
That's what I thought.
So without further ado, my 2016 reading list!
Hello friends!
I'll be honest with you, I have always been a voracious reader. But in 2015? Not so much. I had so much going on working at sea, getting engaged, moving, starting my blog, getting two new jobs, and two kittens, that reading took a backseat to the craziness that was my life! But 2016 is going to be different. No matter what life throws my way I'm going to make reading a priority.
There is almost nothing else I find as inspiring as reading a good book. They allows me to relax, escape, learn, and keep my mind sharp. They are my safe, cozy, happy place. And who doesn't want to be more safe, cozy, and happy?
That's what I thought.
So without further ado, my 2016 reading list!
FICTION
VEGANISM
NON-FICTION
PLAYS
And there you have it: the nineteen books I'd like to read in 2016!
I'm cheating a bit here at the end to recommend a couple of the best books of the few I did manage to read in 2015. They are life-changing, incredible books. Do yourself a favour and order/download them now!
This book is a serious game changer. I took pages of notes while reading it and am excited to begin putting the strategies into effect in my life!
This one is in the same vein as The Slight Edge, but talks more about the actions than the philosophy or purpose behind them. I think they really complement each other!
If you follow my blog at all you already know that this book has made a huge impact on me this year, virtually launching my shift to minimalism! It has inspired many posts on the blog such as:
How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe
This book asks that you open your mind and look at the world objectively. It's a masterpiece that EVERYONE should read.
If you've already read it, did you know there's a sequel?
Also a definite must-read!
And last, but certainly not least:
A classic for a reason.
What's on your 2016 reading list? What were your favourite reads of 2015? I want to know! Let me (and everyone else!) know in the comments below.
Until next time,
