What can you find at your local Farmers' Market?

Fruits & Veggies you'll be able to find at your local Farmers' Market through Pictures

I hope this was helpful!

Everyone should know this: Symptoms of a stroke

She was unaware that she was experiencing a stroke, despite the fact that her symptoms were quite noticeable to others. Her face was numb, her speech was slurred, and her mouth drooled uncontrollably. She was confused and scared, but decided to wait the next morning, as it was late in the evening, to seek medical care. That night she tried to go to sleep, hoping that at the first sign of light, relief would come. Unfortunately, relief did not come. Her symptoms had progressed. She had experienced a gradual deterioration of the brain, which had manifested in her inability to walk or speak. Paralysis had set in on the left side of the brain to a 72-year old, St. Lucian grandmother.

source:TopNews.in

A stroke is the cutting off vital blood flow and oxygen to the brain, causing brain cells to die. This happen s when a blood vessel in or around the brain is either blocked by a blood clot or ruptures. Strokes or cerebrovascular disease falls within one of the larger non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular disease. Stroke is not unique to my family or that other families in St. Lucia. It is a global disease that claims thousands of lives ever year.

In a 2002 report by the St. Lucian government, strokes was the third health threat to St. Lucians, after heart disease-- An island at the time with a population of about 150,000. In the United States, stroke is the third leading cause of death. Over 143,579 people die each year from strokes in the U.S. (http://www.strokecenter.org/patients/stats.htm).

Due to the high potential for the occurrence of stroke, it is extremely important to know the typical symptoms of a stoke, so that medical professionals can intervene and reverse its effects. The most widely recognized test that can help save a life of a person is referred to as F.A.S.T. (The Stroke Association, 2009)

Facial weakness- Can the person smile? Has the mouth or an eye dropped?
Arm weakness- Can the person raise both arms?
Speech Problems- Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
Time to call for emergent help or 911

Time is everything when someone is experiencing a stroke. Everyone should be able to understand the symptoms or warning signs of a stroke. You could save a life.

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Don't forget to visit the Healthy Caribbean Coalition at: www.healthycaribbean.org
Facebook page, www.facebook.com/getthemessage.

Flowers & things at my local Farmers' Market

This afternoon I had the pleasure of visiting my Farmers' Market and thought I would take a few pics.

I love hibiscus-reminds me of home

Don't forget Health Bucks are a great way to increase your EBT dollars if you have it. For every $5 you spend in EBT dollars, you get $2 Health Bucks(same as cash) to purchase ONLY fruits & vegetables.

More pics to come!

To all my International Students!

 Hello folks,

I know that many students like myself will relate to this story. If you know me, then you know that I came to the U.S. to get a better education and more importantly to go further in my education. Like other Caribbean islands, in St. Lucia there is usually a higher number of students who don't make it past secondary school (high school) than there are students who make it to college. I have been fortunate enough to immigrate here to the United States to have one of the best education that I could dream of; an education that I could not have had in my home country. And that's a fact for many international students. 

I have been blessed to earn a Bachelors' degree from a private college and presently, I am making strides to earn a Masters' degree from one of the oldest universities in the country. 

The burning question: Would you stay in the country that you have adopted to work, live and build a career?

  OR

Will you return to your home country with your new skills and knowledge to seek employment and to pass on what you have learned to your country?

Now to be fair, let's me give you my personal response... To begin, I love this country for all what it has afforded me. I did a lot of my growing and maturing here, but I feel the pull/need to go back. I really can't explain it. I need to make a 'contribution' to my home country no matter how small it may be. There is a need to give back and I plan to do just that in the near future. Despite the fact that America has been my home in a sense, St. Lucia will forever be my home, my first love, no matter what.

Please share, I would love to hear your thoughts and your stories concerning this post.

Take care!

Do you currently live in the Caribbean?

 Hello friends,

Non-communicable Chronic Disease are collectively the largest killers of all humans today. Chances are if you are reading this, you or someone you know will be affected by one. Here's how you can help. The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) provides a collaborative approach to combat NCDs in the Caribbean Region. Collectively, NCDs include:

Diabetes

Cancers

Cardiovascular diseases 

Chronic respiratory diseases 

These NCDs all share the same risk factors: physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol. 

HOW CAN YOU HELP to put NCDs at the forefront of health discussions with the United Nations and heads of Government.

Directly from the Healthy Caribbean Coalition:

The Get the Message campaign is a mobile phone text based advocacy campaign in support of the United Nations Summit on Chronic Diseases. Digicel and LIME mobile subscribers in the Caribbean can help by sending a FREE TEXT message of support for this Summit. 

To learn more about this campaign, please visit: http://www.healthycaribbean.org/

Please provide your support.

Elegant Wedding Hairstyle(Natural hair)

Hello guys,

I had the pleasure of attending the wedding of a dear friend this weekend. I was able to achieve this look for the ceremony & reception. This was my first attempt and I loved it.

The front view

Side view

Back view

Buying Fruits & Vegetables in Season (Summer)

Hello guys,

Why should you buy in season? 

1. You eat foods that are very fresh
2. There is more abundance of in-season foods
3. As a result, in-season foods are more affordable
4. Your money goes directly to the farmer
5. Foods bought in season just tastes better. Period!

So what's in season (not an exhaustive list):

Vegetables

Lima Beans

Snap Peas

Beets & Beet Greens

Broccoli

Cabbage

Carrots

Collard Greens

Corn

Cucumbers

Garlic

Kale

Lettuce

Onions

Peppers

Potatoes

Radishes

Spinach

Summer Squash

Swiss Chard

Tomatoes

Turnips

Zucchini

Fruits

Apricots

Blueberries

Peaches

Plums

 I hope this helps.