Category: Well, Honestly…

In this episode we break down the power in “studying to show thyself approved.” Oftentimes many of us take what we hear from others as truth without researching things for ourselves. One of the most dangerous areas to commit this mistake in is your health, wealth and time. If anyone should be diligent about the preservation of your quality of life, it should be you.  

We talk about the common misconceptions of what seems to be healthy based on smart advertising and marketing versus what is actually good for you. We share how we were able to decipher the rhetoric sabotaging the healthy food industry and ways you can avoid falling for the illusion. As brown women around the globe we are targeted continuously for our buying power. 

CNN recently posted that “new data released (shows that) employers cut 140,000 jobs in December (of 2020), signaling that the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic is backtracking. Digging deeper into the data also reveals a shocking gender gap: Women accounted for all the job losses, losing 156,000 jobs, while men gained 16,000″. This means that more women will be looking for ways to deal and cope with sudden changes in their lifestyle.

 Many lean towards food consumption and engaging in health centered activities. We believe that a clear understanding of knowing who to listen to, what to believe and how to research for yourself will be vital for women in America within the coming months. Dealing with a virus that targets all people has prompted an uptick in the sale of vitamins and what is deemed “organic” and or healthy food. 

As we dig deep into making this year the best possible- we want to encourage you to sit still. Don’t run from your thoughts. Pour a cup of our amazing tea and have time to and for yourself to deal with how fast this life goes by. Know that you are equipped with everything you want and need to have, be and get everything you want and need.  We are here for you Brown Babe. Don’t forget to join our Facebook community to ensure you have the sisterly support you deserve and need. 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/brownwomenwellness/
Buy Our Tea: https://www.brownwomenwellness.com

CNN Article: https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/08/economy/women-job-losses-pandemic/index.html

Engineering Tools to Characterize Immune Responses Important for HIV Prevention

HIV remains a global epidemic, with 37.9 million people living with HIV worldwide (UNAIDS, 2018). Various prevention strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral treatment in pregnant women with HIV have shown to be effective in decreasing HIV transmission. As these prevention strategies are becoming more commonly used, it is important to understand their effects on immune responses relevant for proper diagnosis and treatment.  In addition, elucidating inflammatory responses/mediators that can increase HIV susceptibility is also key to reducing HIV transmission. Altered immune responses in patients with HIV that occur as a response to novel PrEP modalities, are not well characterized and tools to characterize this altered response are lacking. Furthermore, as chronic inflammation is a factor known to increase HIV risk, it is important to understand mechanisms mediating these processes. This talk will discuss the methods I have developed to explore immune responses related to HIV prevention and diagnosis. These include characterization of HIV antibodies commonly used for diagnostic tests, and proteomics-based systems biology approaches used to analyze epigenetic mechanisms of inflammation shown to increase HIV risk in uninfected infants born to HIV positive mothers.

Brief Bio:

Dr. Ivana Parker is a Fulbright Scholar who recently completed a year-long study at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Her project assessed the risk of a commonly used tuberculosis vaccine, BCG, on HIV susceptibility in infants using proteomics and systems biology approaches.  She completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship as an American Society for Microbiology postdoctoral fellow at the Centers for Disease Control within the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.  At the CDC, she evaluated the impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on current diagnostic assay approaches and identified trends to optimize assay design. Ivana received her PhD in Bioengineering from Georgia Tech in 2015. Her thesis investigated the effects of pro-atherogenic shear stress, HIV proteins, and antiretroviral therapies on the vasculature using in vivo and in vitro models. During her time at Georgia Tech, she received the NSF graduate research fellowship and was selected to be a trainee on an NIH Cell and Tissue Engineering Training Grant. She also received a Whitaker Grant to develop artificial aortic valves in Cape Town, South Africa and facilitated set-up of a lab in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during her PhD training. Ivana earned her BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida in 2009.

Source: 

ENGINEERING TOOLS TO CHARACTERIZE IMMUNE RESPONSES IMPORTANT FOR HIV PREVENTION

Connect with Dr Parker on Twitter: @DRIKParker

As we dig deep into making this year the best possible- we want to encourage you to sit still. Don’t run from your thoughts. Pour a cup of our amazing tea and have time to and for yourself to deal with how fast this life goes by. Know that you are equipped with everything you want and need to have, be and get everything you want and need.  We are here for you Brown Babe. Don’t forget to join our Facebook community to ensure you have the sisterly support you deserve and need. 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/brownwomenwellness/
Buy Our Tea: https://www.brownwomenwellness.com

In this episode we sit down with a long time family friend Farrah Bledsoe and talk about how life will offer you the chance to build a story of resilience. During our chat Andretta and Farrah share how continuous loss of family members, businesses and more forced Farrah to truly get in touch with her competitive side and grow out of the shell that others designed for her as she was growing up. 

While known to be the pretty one that always has it together – Farrah shares that her gifts of having a business mind, competitive spirit  and keen sense of opportunity have always been the core of her foundation. We dive deep into the power of knowing your story and how your story shows up in the way that you decide to live your life. We break down the power of resilience and the necessary mindset needed to push through everything life throws your way.

5 Ways to Build Resilience 

It’s common for people to credit their success to confidence instead of resilience. Resilience is one of the most overlooked character building attributes a person can have.  But not many people are able to explain how building one’s confidence is often based on how they  utilize resilience. 

It’s tricky, because life often throws different things at us, but overall we grow from the choices and accomplishments that feed our passion and make us feel proud of who we are. Discovering these fundamental things can be one of the most worthwhile pursuits of your life. Here are 5 ways you can begin building your resilience today and bounce back from tough times:

1. Get Things Done  

Resilience is built on accomplishment. If you achieve small and big goals, you’re going to feel much better about yourself after facing a hard time in life. Those day-to-day goals are what you need to accomplish things today, tomorrow, next week or three years from now to help meet your goal and heal from trauma.

2. Monitor Your Progress

Try to quantify your accomplishments: write down how you’re able to show up for yourself in hard times. If you’re able to exercise daily or be more mindful of the things you eat- write that stuff down. It is important to see how the small things can turn into big things while building up your strength at the same time.  Doing so  will help you stay on course, and you will build resilience as you see the progress you’re making in real time.

3. Exercise   

Besides benefiting your health in general, exercising helps memory retention, improves focus, helps manage stress and prevents depression. It’s harder to be anxious when there is no excess energy to draw upon, and outside of being difficult and uncomfortable at times, exercise improves every aspect of your life.

4. Think Long-term 

The foundation of unhappiness is a decision made for short-term comfort that impedes long-term goals. You have to decide if your short-term comfort is more important than your long-term goals, but know that long-term goals will bring you far more happiness in the long run than your short-term comfort. This is the fundamental element of resilience. The ability to have vision beyond where you are now and realizing where you need to be in order to truly prosper. 

5. Do More Of What Makes You Happy 

What do you love to do in your spare time? Whatever it is that you love, create space for it, because life is short- you need time to enrich your life and to recharge to be your best self. Living in the present is the best gift you can give yourself along with permission to enjoy your life. Time is precious- no matter how much life throws at you, your ability to take it, grow from it and move on better because of it will help you build a testimony that can change the world. 

Jumping rope for most may seem like a child’s activity but for a Chicagoland woman it was the unifying element of a life changing purpose realized. Brown Women Wellness founders Andretta and Aaquila sit down for an enlightening discussion with 40+ Double Dutch Club founder Pamela Robinson to talk about all things health and wellness for brown babes around the globe.

During this podcast, the strength of unity and organization rings deep within the realms of the mental fortitude needed to embrace what it is that you love in order to give your body what it needs to be strong. The women break down the perks of working out without it feeling like a chore and the added benefit of sisterhood being sprinkled on top of it. While reminiscing on the last opportunity they had for such a refreshing activity- the women recalled in shock, highlighting their early teens. 

While dealing with transitioning to an empty nester and challenges within her marriage, Pamela saw the Double Dutch club as something all her own that gave her mental peace and support. A random jump rope in the trunk of her car led to a national movement encompassing over 12 thousand women. Her goal to provide a safe haven for physical exercise, connection and accountability has assisted in redefining what age appropriate past times are. She saw a chance to create a space and opportunity to work out that made being healthy a priority. Pamela sees the 40+ Double Dutch Club as a way to support and galvanize minority communities under the umbrella of physical activity worldwide. Double Dutch isn’t for kids any more; it is for anyone that wants a full body workout that assists with keeping your mind and social skills strong as well. 

Make sure you enjoy some of our amazing tea before, during and after your double dutch work out. Stock up for 2021 now at www.BrownWomenWellness.com 

Facebook Group: LINK

Ever wonder if your doctor is the right one for you? 2020 has taught us all to read the fine print when dealing with our health and wellness. Dr. Tony Hampton breaks down Functional Medicine and how it can take a traditional doctors appointment to the next level with customized care.

Dr Hampton Book On Amazon Fix Your Diabetes
Institute of Functional Medicine www.IFM.org
Protecting Your NEST with Dr. Tony Hampton Podcast

Think about the last time you went to the doctor, chances are you went to the wrong person for medical advice. 

In this episode of Well Honestly, the ladies dig deep into the work of Dr Tony Hampton and uncover one of the major reasons many brown women globally aren’t receiving the quality medical care that they need.

What is the difference between a traditional doctor vs a functional  doctor? According to the institute of functional medicine “the Functional Medicine model is an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It requires a detailed understanding of each patient’s genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors and leverages that data to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to improved patient outcomes.”

During a traditional doctors appointment you’d meet with a physician and a few supportive medical team members to categorize your current level of health. The goal is to determine any concerning health issues and document the severity. We’ve all been there. You go in to see your doctor to learn about what is going on with your body and you take a few tests and leave with a new medication.  The medication is usually prescribed to treat the symptoms and not the cause for the disruption of your health. 

That is where Functional Medicine comes in. Within this realm of treatment, the patient’s health is the main priority and not the symptoms. The goal is to find the root of the problem and work as a team to restore the patient to optimal health and wellness. This is especially important during the pandemic. 

When breaking down why Black and brown people were impacted the most during the pandemic Dr. Hampton focused on communities of color dealing with stress, unbalanced cultural food choices, lack of sleep and even trauma. His well documented data set that allows him to outline health via the NEST model is shocking.  (Featured below as 😉

• N is for Nutrition, which consists of whole, unprocessed foods with no sugar that are low-carb. “I tell them they can have ribs, but not with barbecue sauce.”
• E is for Exercise, even just walking or easy resistance exercises like pushups and squats at home. “It can be very hard to jog in some communities that are not safe.”
• S is for less Stress and more Sleep. “Sleep is so important to health but it can be hard to get it if you work the night shift or are under a lot of stress.”
• T is for “what you are Thinking” and for how you deal with Trauma in your life. “Instead of focusing on everything that is bad, look for the good, like the fact that it is a beautiful day and the sun is shining.”

With the common notion that vitamin D is a game changing factor for minorities looking for preventative measures to dealing with Covid 19, Dr. Hampton pinpoints the safest levels of vitamin D consumption for most. This was pivotal information as he also mentioned that  where you live can determine how long you live.  It’s best to know what elements your body produces naturally so that you can find ways to support your health and fill in the gaps to ensure you are functioning at your highest capacity. The aim is to be as physically , mentally and emotionally strong as possible. 

Thank You for listening!

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

+ @WellHonestlyPodcast on Instagram

+ Join the Facebook Community

+ Buy Our Tea

SUBSCRIBE + REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS

Thank you for listening. We hope this podcast has been informative & an inspiring resource to create the kind of life you want with your health in mind.

To help get this podcast in front of more women like you, please consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here! The 10 seconds you take doing this means the WORLD to us and the women who will be helped by this show.

Click here to go to our Podcast Website

In this weeks episode we breakdown a few pressing health statistics that are flying underneath the radar of the black community. We share statistics, impact and advice on the questions to ask, research and tips to tackle managing your journey.

Do you have questions about your body and how to navigate getting your health in order? We are in the same boat. 

 We are all about community and wellness on this episode so lets jump right into it.

Introduction

[06:30] Overview of the Topic: Did you know about the side effects of “Creamy Crack”? Source: Article

[13:25] Did you know this about Black Women & Lupus? Source : Article

[16:45] The Key Takeaway for Managing Your Wellness. Source: SHARE Cancer Support Ambassador:  SITE
Foodbites : SITE
Sisters Are Us Circle of Survivors: SITE
TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance : SITE
READ THIS ARTICLE for a deep dive into black women and the wellness journey: HERE

[18:50] More About Us & Our Mission & How to Be featured on our podcast

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

+ @WellHonestlyPodcast on Instagram

+ Join the Facebook Community

+ Buy Our Tea

SUBSCRIBE + REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS

Thank you for listening. We hope this podcast has been informative & an inspiring resource to create the kind of life you want with your health in mind.

To help get this podcast in front of more women like you, please consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here! The 10 seconds you take doing this means the WORLD to us and the women who will be helped by this show.

Click here to go to our Podcast Website

Do you have questions about your body and how to navigate getting your health in order? We are in the same boat. During this episode we talk about the facts, the myths and the legends regarding women of color and their health. This week we will dig deep on issues dealing with sleep, anxiety and stress. 

[4:55] The Mindset Moment – Book of the Week- 

The Game of Life and How to Play It

[7:35] The Impact of Stress As a Medical Symptom – Stress Triggers

[10:15] Ways to Decrease Stress & Prioritize Your Health- Tips to Decompress

Brown Women Wellness – Do Not Disturb Tea

[21:12] Breakdown of Sleep Disruptors –  

Things That Can Interfere With Your Sleep

[24:50] Community Interview with Terry Anderson Founder of www.MsHempLady.com – The Benefits and Business of Hemp

[37:17] Honesty Moment
 
[42:46] More About Us & Our Mission & Who to Follow Online 

Want Andretta’s “Covid Cocktail” As seen on Instagram?

A cup of Warm Water

Add fresh squeezed lime

Elderberry Colloidal Silver (as instructed)

Zinc (as instructed)

Oil of Oregano (as instructed)

Vitamin D (as instructed)
Vitamin C (as instructed)

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

+ @WellHonestlyPodcast on Instagram

+ Join the Facebook Community

+ Buy Our Tea

SUBSCRIBE + REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS

Thank you for listening. We hope this podcast has been informative & an inspiring resource to create the kind of life you want with your health in mind.

To help get this podcast in front of more women like you, please consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here! The 10 seconds you take doing this means the WORLD to us and the women who will be helped by this show.

Click here to go to our Podcast Website 

Brown Women Wellness 

Brown women across the globe are suffering in silence. They are afraid to acknowledge what is going on within their lives, minds and bodies. The rise for communities embracing the experience of being a brown woman has become a necessity for survival. The founders of Brown Women Wellness are stepping up to the plate to heed the calling. With the launch of their new podcast; Well, Honestly- they are aiming to galvanize the voice of brown women globally.

What This Podcast Is About?

Well, Honestly is the weekly deep-dive conversation every woman needs. Led by mother-daughter duo Andretta and Aaqila, no topic is off-limits as they focus on honest, vulnerable and life-changing topics centered around health, wellness and womanhood. These thought leaders want to do more than share their insight on nutrition, herbs and essential oils. Well, Honestly features groundbreaking interviews with prominent industry stakeholders sharing insight into holistic healing and western medicine. Listen to your body and this podcast.

What is the TEA?
The first episode entitled “What’s Tea Sis?” lead by Andretta and Aaqila, a mother and daughter duo with different viewpoints but the same goals toward optimal health introduces the audience to the foundation of their podcast. AIming to talk things through with evaluating your health and wellness routines- the pair brings insight from industry leaders while also sharing the stories of women within their community.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Podcasts and safe spaces like this are necessary. Health.com released an article that highlights that 

“African American women are 60 percent more likely to have high blood pressure than non-Hispanic white women, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health.” 

The reason for such a high statistic confirms why podcasts, businesses and communities fostered by women like Andretta and Aaqila of Brown Women Wellness are necessary. The headline suggests that this overwhelming statistic aims at discrimination being the leading factor of hypertension.

Key Take-Aways!
After listening to episode one of the Well, Honestly podcast you will want to do a deep dive into better understanding the prominent elements of your wellness.  The duo showcases a verbal blueprint to doing a self-diagnosis that outlines how you feel about your health and ways to hold yourself accountable for the work you put into being healthy. They also demonstrate what it is like to talk about what you are going through with someone that can understand and offer insight. This is a critical example being showcased that adds an extra layer of tenderness when you realize that the pair are mother and daughter. Lastly, they break down the need to do the research for yourself to find out how you can better your health beyond the word of mouth ministries and doctors advice you may receive. No one should care more about your health than you. Invest the time, energy and dedication needed to live your best life brown girl. And that’s us being honest!

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

+ @WellHonestlyPodcast on Instagram

+ Join the Facebook Community

+ Buy Our Tea

SUBSCRIBE + REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS

Thank you for listening. We hope this podcast has been informative & an inspiring resource to create the kind of life you want with your health in mind.

To help get this podcast in front of more women like you, please consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here! The 10 seconds you take doing this means the WORLD to us and the women who will be helped by this show.

Click here to go to our Podcast Website

In this weeks episode we do a deep dive into some tips to help you navigate the questions to ask a potential partner about their emotional, mental and spiritual health. We dig deep from our past experiences and surface understanding to help you figure out what is important to you during this season of your life. The one thing I know we all can agree on is the necessity of your wellness journey, doing what is best for you and not giving up on things you’ve started. We are breaking it all down with a pinch of health and wellness talk to keep you informed, motivated and empowered.
Do you have questions about your wellness routine and boundaries?

 We are all about community and wellness on this episode so lets jump right into it.

[03:10] Overview of How to Navigate This Topic and Your Mindset in 2022

[11:11] How to Deal with Pets and Owner Attachments

[14:40] Navigating the Family Dynamic Strategically

[18:50] When Someone Tells You Who They Are- Believe Them

[27:30] Product Swap of The Week: SOAP (BUY HERE) or (BUY HERE)

[32:00] More About Us & Our Mission & How to Be featured on our podcast

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

+ @WellHonestlyPodcast on Instagram

+ Join the Facebook Community

+ Buy Our Tea

SUBSCRIBE + REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS

Thank you for listening. We hope this podcast has been informative & an inspiring resource to create the kind of life you want with your health in mind.

To help get this podcast in front of more women like you, please consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here! The 10 seconds you take doing this means the WORLD to us and the women who will be helped by this show.

Click here to go to our Podcast Website