Al-Hadeeqah Holistic Awareness

An overwhelming struggle with eating healthy is letting go of the harmful foods you have grown to love. The tongue has become so coated with these sugary and high processed foods that it makes it difficult to enjoy the sweetness of an apple. This is where small changes are the most helpful. At the beginning of my journey, I found that swapping healthy alternatives instead of out-casting foods in totality had kept me interested in the food I was eating.  I would like to share some of those food swaps that assisted me in improving my diet. Mayo  There are companies that sell healthier versions of mayonnaise, even egg or dairy free. However, there is a cheaper and even more nutritious way to enjoy a spread on your sandwich: mashed avocado or hummus. I like to season my avocado with pink salt and black pepper in the mashing process before adding to sandwiches or veggie wraps. Hummus can easily be made at home. You can either soak dried chickpeas overnight or purchase them in a can (so

Photo Credit: Liz West Spring is on our heels and with it a new season of fruits and veggies! We are blessed with a variety of produce each season but do you know which produce is associated with each season? You may know some (some are popular due to marketing) like pumpkins in the fall and watermelon in the summer. Now, what about the unsung produce, like turnips that grow in the winter or spring peas? Eating locally and in-season has more benefits than just having fun facts for trivia night. We can save money, receive more nutritious benefits and enjoy our food much more by knowing when and where our food is grown. Health Benefits of Eating Seasonally  Fruits and vegetables are originally grown in specific weather conditions. These conditions are part of what gives them the best potential to provide us with nutritional benefits for those upcoming seasons. For example, many cooling fruits and vegetables are grown in the summer like cucumbers and watermelon. This is

When skin care is mentioned, the first thought of many is the skin upon our face. While taking care of our face is very important, it is only one area of the body. As a result, this perception has lead to the rest of our skin being neglected. It is exposed to so many elements in our daily lives that sometimes we forget to treat it properly.  We have to grasp the understanding that our skin is the largest organ of our body and it requires care that is not purely cosmetic. What are some Functions of the Skin? The main function of the skin is protection. Along with covering our nerves, veins, tissues and other organs; it has the ability to protect us from environmental factors such as damage from ultraviolet radiation, bacterial invasion, and injuries.  It is also responsible for temperature regulation; namely, by retaining or releasing heat. Sweat is secreted from sweat glands through the skin. It is then evaporated, causing the skin to feel cool and dropping the surface temperatur

                      Photo Credit: Bunchofgrapes This common household spice had an amazing journey through history. Native to southern India, Black pepper has made its way to many different tribes and countries by trade. It is actually dubbed "one the most traded spices in the world". This once highly prized spice had set explorers seeking its pungent flavor across the seas as it was an expensive item at the time. How expensive? Roughly 500 years ago, it was worth its own weight in gold and used as currency in some areas.  It was the symbol of fine cookery and whoever had an abundance of it in his possession was considered wealthy. [ 1 , 2 ] Cultivation Photo Credit: Devadaskrishnan Whole black peppercorns that we purchase at a grocery store are dried fruits of a flowering plant that can grow up to 33ft tall. They start off as green berries bunched much like grapes and are picked when they are just about to turn red. Once picked they are boiled and left o

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم I love finding natural body care products! When I was first introduced to this line, it was given to me as a gift from my parents. It has been a favorite ever since! I have only tried these four varieties, but each of them has never failed to deliver some form of satisfaction for my skin. What I love most about these products is that I can recognize every ingredient and see the benefits from each one. All of these soaps add softness and rejuvenate my skin. I particularly like the smell of the African Black soap enriched with Tea Tree, Shea butter, and Aloe vera .  The Milk And Honey enriched with Coconut oil and Shea Butter is the most hydrating, so I prefer using this or the one with Oatmeal on my face. It has proven itself as an excellent support for irritated skin. The very first one that I have tried was the African Black Soap Organic Shea Butter enriched with Avocado oil and Black seed . Not only did I use this one as a body soap but as

Many of us have grown up using this oil for every form of cooking (I know I did!). We see it in just about every grocery store and for a comprehensive reason. It is the 3rd largest consumed oil in the world. Canola oil is described as a "heart-healthy" oil that can reduce the risk of heart-related diseases and diabetes. It is also praised for having the least amount of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. [ 1 ] To a consumer and a health-conscious person this sounds like a pretty good deal as canola oil is extremely affordable. There is, however, more to this oil than what meets the eye. Where does Canola oil come from? This product was actually developed from hybridization of a plant called rapeseed in early 1970's. Rapeseed is an oil known for the production of biodiesel and lubricant for jet engines. This oil also contains a significant amount of Erucic acid which has the ability to cause cardiac damage when consumed in large doses[ 2 ]. This rendered the o

Credit to: Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez  A popular ingredient in many cuisines, garlic has taken the title as one of the oldest medicinal plants ever recorded. It has touched so many parts of history that tracing its origin has become a strenuous task. Records on clay tablets of early civilizations have shown the usage of garlic in both everyday diet and medicinal use. Some go as far back as 3000 B.C.E [ 1 ] Today, garlic is considered native to central Asia yet it has wild plants flourishing in Italy and southern France.[ 2 ] This doesn't mean that all of our available garlic is imported. The US is ranked the tenth largest global producer of garlic; many of which are grown in California.  Properties    Garlic has been used to treat such a broad spectrum of ailments as a result of its many properties that it contains. It is a known antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral. Thus, it has the potential to treat anything from athlete's foot to bronchi

Why is Salt Bad? The matter is not salt per se but rather the type of salt. The ever-so-popular table salt is an underlying, hazardous culprit for many health issues such as diabetes, Osteoporosis, obesity, and thyroid dysfunction. [1]  These issues come about due to the mixture of chemicals within it that our bodies view as toxins. Table salt is refined and stripped of its natural trace minerals such as iodine and sodium. Companies replace stripped minerals with artificial ones along with bleaching and anti-caking agents that have been proven to cause more damage than benefit. [2] Our bodies are equipped to fight back and attempt to restore balance. In this case, it does so by rapidly raising the pressure of blood to avert the toxins away from the heart. Unfortunately, many allow this to become consistent and when this happens it is known as high blood pressure [3] . Make the Switch Sea salts are inexpensive substitutes found at many local markets that can deliver the same k

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Backstory of Cinnamon There are over 250 identified species of cinnamon, but only two commonly used varieties. The most popular and cheaper kind is called Cassia (Chinese cinnamon) which is grown in Southern China. Its more expensive and rarer relative grown in Thailand and Sri Lanka is Ceylon. With both having similar health benefits, Ceylon is said to have the upper hand due to the lack of a compound called coumarin. This compound has been linked to liver issues when consumed in large doses. Consequently, it is recommended for one who wishes to supplement with cinnamon to do so with Ceylon. [ 1 ] Some of its Health benefits Whether using Cassia or Ceylon, Cinnamon contains effective healing properties such as immune stimulation and anti-inflammation. One of the most popular is controlling blood sugar. In one study, patients who were utilizing cinnamon (cassia) have shown to have a reduction in fasting blood glucose levels. [ 2 ] It also contain

Organifi Green Juice Review Organifi Green Juice ( Powder ) I purchased and used this product about a year ago. It's a little on the pricey side but with that being said it is a very good product of great quality. The company describes it as a gently dried superfood powder "Now You Can Get All Your Healthy Superfoods In One Drink… With No Shopping, No Blending, and No Juicing."[ 1 ] There are 11 benefit-packed ingredients inside.  Some of the ingredients include Ashwagandha, beets, spirulina, and Moringa. I experienced effects within the first week of using Organifi Green Juice. I had a boost in energy, focus and with continued use, I lost weight. Prior to use, I had an issue with bloating and that had subsided. Because of its price, I would recommend for you to do some more research on the product.They have a great return policy and an amazing staff so if you change your mind about the product you should be able to get your money back with ease. Click

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم What is Detoxing? Detoxing is the course of removing toxins and waste from the body. Our bodies are created with a natural internal detoxification process which many elements of our bodies are involved in; including our organs. The three major involved organs are the colon, kidneys, and liver ( 1 ).   In holistic healing and alternative medicine, natural materials are used to aid this aforementioned process. The beauty in this is that you can receive a wide range of benefits from the natural product you ingest. These may include herbs, teas, fruits, and vegetables.   The effects of removing toxins and waste vary from type of foods ingested during a detox and from person to person. In general, detoxing can aid in weight loss and boost energy levels. Rebecca Lewis, a registered dietitian at  HelloFresh explains,  " Detoxing will help boost your energy, support your immune system and even clear your thinking. Not to mention that your skin, hai

السلام علي من أتبع الهدى Peace and Blessings be upon those who follow the Guidance I would like to extend my warmest welcome and gratitude to you.  What is Al-Hadeeqah?       Al-Hadeeqah is Arabic for "the garden". This is the inspiration for this growing platform; to provide you with a garden of knowledge, education, tools, motivation, and cultivation. I intend to share my own experiences with holistic living and health products as well as information from certified experts, doctors and holistic practitioners.     There is a myriad of topics regarding health which is almost impossible for one place to give each one justice. With this being mentioned,  the top focus of Al-Hadeeqah will be to yield a range of topics such as Teas, Aromatherapy / Essential Oil Use, Weight loss etc... All while keeping information simple and accessible.  (God willing) What is Holistic Healing? Holistic healing is the process of treating ailments or disease by bringing balan