If you’re not ready to join the vegetarian movement, consider cutting meat from your diet just one day a week. Going meatless on Mondays will put you in the company of millions of people in over 40 countries that have committed to using Meatless Mondays as a tool to gain personal health benefits and improve the health of our planet. This one small step can have a big impact on reducing your risk of chronic disease and reducing your global footprint.
There are countless reasons why you should consider foregoing meat for at least one day a week. They include everything from reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes, losing weight, giving your gut a break and improving heart health to saving animals, reducing greenhouse gases and reducing water consumption and conserving precious environmental resources.
Consider these facts that impact our planet:
It takes 1,850 gallons of water to produce one single pound of beef, compared to 39 gallons of water to produce a pound of vegetables.
Livestock production creates more greenhouse gases than all the cars, trucks, planes and trains in the world.
Producing one quarter pound beef burger uses up enough energy to power an iPhone for 6 months and uses 425 gallons of water.
Livestock production uses 75% of the earth’s agricultural land.
When you commit to Meatless Mondays, you can directly save 28 land animals and 175 aquatic animals per year.
If those facts resonate with you and you’d like to join the Meatless Monday movement, there are unlimited online resources for great vegetarian dishes. ForksOverKnives.com and MeatlessMonday.com are great places to start! Consuming less meat means more love for yourself and our planet. Happy eating!
There’s no silver bullet when it comes to reaching our beauty goals, but if there was a cure-all, the closest thing we’d have is Coconut. Everyone from health seekers, life hackers and beauty gurus to self-care proponents rely on Coconut oil or extracts to make hair shiny and vibrant, to make skin softer, to detox the mouth with oil-pulling and brushing teeth as well as its use as a make-up remover, a metabolism booster and a plethora of other uses. The healing power and natural ingredients in Coconut oil are abundant. It’s why we add the power of this pure, superfood into many of our formulas from our Natural Lip Balm to Hand Wash, Body Wash, Body Butter, Shampoo, Scalp Restore products and Hair Masks. It’s an essential ingredient to repairing, restoring and balancing hair and skin.
Here are our Top 10 Reasons we Love Coconut in our Products.
Coconut is an abundant source of lauric acid, an antimicrobial, so it can reduce bacteria on the skin and reduce inflammation.
Coconut oil is mainly composed of saturated fats, which are amazing at repairing your skin’s natural barrier function and can also keep moisture in the skin by slowing down the evaporation.
It’s full of antioxidants, so it helps with anti-aging, and contains high levels of skin-soothing linoleum and linoleic acid.
The high vitamin E content of coconut protects skin from harmful UV rays.
Coconut contains antifungal properties to keep skin healthy, fight against allergies and infections that can be responsible for rashes, dermatitis and thinning hair.
Coconut is very hydrating and has a great moisturizing effect for dry skin, and stimulates the production of collagen.
It has a light, fresh, exotic scent that has a soothing, uplifting and relaxing effect.
Sharing Raw Stories is a way for us to connect, acknowledge the beauty, strength and perseverance involved in every journey. We hope these stories enlighten, inspire and encourage you as you walk your own path and help you to know that you are never alone. What is your Raw Story?
“I was born with a port wine stain birthmark as part of the Sturge Weber Syndrome that I have. Doctors advised to start with laser treatment when I was about six months old. At age two, this went terribly wrong as the treatment severely burnt my birthmark resulting in scar tissue on my birthmark. The scars belong to me as much as my birthmark does. I have eye sight problem as a result of the syndrome I have. I am blind on my right eye. And for me it is so much more important that I can see the world rather than spending my time treating my face for the sake of being seen differently in society. I invest time each day on my internal being, also as a means to relate healthily to my exterior and skin. I have been practicing yoga and meditation for the past decade on a daily basis.
From my interest in how people see and are seen in society I focussed my research at university on this subject. Last year I conducted research on the experience of people with visible differences with stigma and discrimination. From that @tofacetheworld was born, and I have now transformed it into my coaching business in which I coach individuals on many aspects of life, and particularly body image, awareness, acceptance.
I believe in education and letting the world see and engage in diversity in all its forms and facets. I continue with research of different topics related to self-acceptance, diversity and body awareness. Because below all that pigment we all have the same color, and with that, we should collectively move beyond those divisive features of humankind and face the world as we are”
The day where we all come together and hold our loved ones close.
As we are all still struggling through the effects of a global pandemic and the challenges of civil unrest, we can’t help but stop and think of the day that tragedy brought us all together. When the planes on 9/11 struck, we unified and combined our efforts to support those who lost their lives, were searching for loved ones and were deeply affected by being hit on our home base. If we can pause and reflect on the love that poured out for our fellow citizens, on the generosity of strangers and spirit of resolve, we can move ourselves to a new place of understanding. We, as a country, are the same people that united. We can be love and a safe place for those who are struggling, even today. Today we honor the heroes, the lost and the love that was shown on September 11th.
We’re all wondering where Summer of 2020 went. It wasn’t the vacation-filled, carefree season we were hoping for, but we can still savor the last minutes before Fall takes over and we’re in pumpkin-spice latte season and cooler weather.
Here are a few spontaneous ideas on how to make this Labor Day, a labor of love and a happy one.
Go old-school and turn on the sprinklers. Run through them with hair flying and shrieks of laughter. A run through the sprinklers is good for the soul.
Make your own ice cream. You can get an at-home ice cream maker for an indulgent treat, or go healthy and make some Nice-Cream with sliced frozen bananas in your food processor. Throw in our favorite addition of strawberries, chocolate chips, a little honey or peanut butter for an even “nicer” treat.
Play games. Have a cornhole competition, play H-O-R-S-E at the basketball hoop, craft some old-fashioned games like a ring toss or water balloon toss. Play. Laugh. Be silly.
Turn your backyard into a movie theater. Wait until the sun sets and create cozy blanket seating, make popcorn, eat Junior Mints and licorice and sit down and enjoy a good summer flick or vacation movie.
BBQ. It goes without saying that barbecue is on the Labor Day menu. Upgrade from burgers and hot dogs to in-season healthier choices to keep your immune system strong going into fall. Grill veggies. Roast sweet potatoes. Make a berry trifle or stone fruit crumble. Craft some sweet watermelon cocktails or refreshing juices. Indulge. Enjoy. This is your time to taste the last sweet treats of summer.
Have your own mini-parade. Dress up in red, white and blue. Make paper hats and decorate them. Find makeshift musical instruments and craft ribbon poles to wave as you walk through the neighborhood. Everyone loves a parade!
Camp out back. Pitch some tents. Light some lanterns, make some s’mores, roast hot-dogs, sing campfire songs and tell spooky ghost stories. The simple act of sleeping under the stars is magic in itself.
Watermelon — that ultimate warm weather treat, starring at our picnics and barbecues — is packed with antioxidants and free-radical fighting lycopene, meaning this cooling treat, happens to be really good for your skin too. Make your own DIY face mask for radiant, supple and soothed summer skin. It’s cooling, brightening and particularly beneficial for skin that has had too much sun exposure. When combined with honey, you get the perfect mix of hydrating, brightening, soothing, and acne-fighting effects.
Here’s the DIY:
Mix equal parts Watermelon with equal parts honey. (For a full face, 2-3 Tablespoons should be plenty) Mix it in a blender or with a whisk, and apply to your face. Relax for 20-30 minutes and rinse! For added cooling benefits, you can grate just the rind of the watermelon, mix with honey, refrigerate for 10 minutes then apply for 20 minutes.
How great would it be to cut down on the pains of growing out bangs! If you want longer, stronger hair, faster, this is for you. Carrot oil has become a plant-derived superpower for hair care benefits. It has been shown to help hair grow faster — which is at the top of everyone’s list of hair dreams and may even help with hair loss by strengthening hair at its root.
Pressed from the tiny, dried seeds of the lacey white flower head of wild carrot — the wildflower commonly known as Queen Anne’s Lace — carrot seed oil is an essential oil and contains a host of nourishment and essential vitamins for hair growth and rejuvenation. It is one of the key ingredients in our Bounce Back Shampoo + Conditioner. Here’s why…
The Perks of Carrot Oil
Carrot Oil may help hair grow thicker and faster •There’s evidence it helps hair grow longer and stronger.
The vitamins contained in Carrot Oil help protect from harmful ultraviolet rays and environmental pollution.
It’s gentle and healing.
Fends off frizz.
Helps improve texture, making it more softer and smoother. •Adds elasticity.
Carrot oil helps boost circulation to your scalp.
It’s rich in vitamin A, E, and beta carotene — all of which are essential for hair growth.
Can help relieve symptoms of dry scalp and dandruff by stimulating the production of sebum.
Spice up your end of summer yoga routine with these 5 energy boosting poses the have added muscle building and mood-lifting benefits.
Down dog split, knee to nose.
From downward-facing dog, inhale and lift your left leg as high as you can behind you while keeping your hips square. Exhale and slowly bring your left knee to your nose, drawing your belly in toward your spine. On your next inhale, lift your leg back up to down-dog split. Repeat 5 times, then switch sides and repeat.
Works legs, arms, shoulders, upper back, abs + butt.
Bow pose
Lie facedown, forehead resting on mat, arms on the floor by your sides, palms up. Exhale and bend your knees, bringing heels as close to your butt as you can. Reach back and take hold of your ankles, keeping knees hip-width apart. Inhale and lift your chest and thighs off the floor, pushing heels away from your butt. Make sure to keep your lower back relaxed, pressing your shoulder blades down and back. Continue to take deep inhales and exhales; work your way up to holding for 5 or more breaths. Slowly lower and release your ankles to return to start.
Works your back, chest, shoulders, arms, abs, legs, hips
Twisted Chair pose
Yoga’s version of the squat, improves the lymph system and the digestive system. It is a great way to work thighs, butt, abs and arms.
Inhale and raise your arms above your head, perpendicular to the floor. Exhale as you bend your knees, bringing your thighs as parallel to the floor as they can get. Your knees will project out slightly over your feet and your torso will form an approximate right angle over your thighs.
Shoulder stand
The shoulder send is known for boosting metabolism and balancing thyroid levels as it strengthens upper body, abs, legs and helps improve respiratory system and sleep.
Begin by lying flat on your back with your legs extended and your arms at your sides, palms down. Bend your knees and place the soles of your feet flat on the floor.
On an inhalation, use your abdominal muscles to lift your legs and hips off the floor. Curl your torso and bring your knees in toward your face. Then, lift your hips and bring your torso perpendicular to the floor.
Bend your elbows and place your hands on your lower back with your fingertips pointing up toward the ceiling. Keep your elbows on the ground, shoulder-width apart. Do not let your elbows splay out to the sides.
When you are comfortable, lift your thighs so they are vertical to the floor, keeping your knees bent. Draw your tailbone toward your pubic bone. Then, straighten your legs fully and reach your feet up to the ceiling. Lift through the balls of your feet.
Try to bring your shoulders, hips, and feet into one line.
Keep your head and neck in line with your spine and do not turn your head. Draw your shoulder blades firmly into your upper back. Keep a space between your chin and chest, and soften your throat. Gaze toward your chest.
Hold the pose for 10-25 breaths.
Low Lunge
A low lunge, works to lengthen your muscles while opening your heart and helps balance and concentration.
From Downward Facing Dog, step your right foot between your hands. Place your left knee down on the mat. Bring your hands to your right knee or sweep them up to the sky and hook your thumbs. Slide your shoulders down your back as you relax your forehead and jaw and look up slightly. Lift from the back of your heart, from the thoracic spine, to find a small backbend. Stay for 5 full breaths. Bring your hands back down to frame your right foot, tuck your left toe and step back to Down Dog. Repeat on the left side.
Tea Tree Oil could be the secret to healthy, happy hair and skin. It’s one of the plant-based wonders full of detoxifying, cleansing, healing and skin-soothing benefits. Tea Tree Oil is actually an extract of the Melaleuca plant that is full of antimicrobial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It has become the go-to ingredient for natural, plant-based treatments for everything from dandruff to acne and skin irritations partly because of its nourishing, gentle nature.
We love it in our Scalp Restore Shampoo, Conditioner and Scalp Therapy Treatment because all the benefits add up to stronger, longer, healthier hair. Take a look at what it can do for your hair.
Hair Care Benefits of Tea Tree Oil:
It’s a natural anti-inflammatory and antiseptic so it helps soothe an irritated, itchy scalp.
It’s great for dandruff because it removes chemical build up and dead skin cells from the scalp, making it less prone to flaking.
It has multiple properties that fight bacteria to help prevent skin irritations or other conditions such as dandruff, lice and psoriasis.
It is a natural moisturizer and even though it’s a deep cleanser, it won’t dry out hair.
It unclogs hair follicles and nourishes roots allowing for optimal hair growth.
Tea Tree Oil improves overall scalp health by stimulating the scalp, increasing blood flow to the area and improving the condition of hair follicles.
Over 11 million bars of soap donated to those in need.
The motto at Raw Sugar HQ is “lead with love.” And love is how the company began… it was founded by partners in business — and in love — Ronnie Shugar and Donda Mullis. From day one, Raw Sugar was created as a brand with heart with the goal of making healthy, clean living products available to the mainstream. This founding principle of leading with love was the catalyst for the Raw Sugar Initiative, our social give back, inspired by the belief that all people have the right to clean healthy living, regardless of social or economic background. If you’ve ever purchased any Raw Sugar product, you’ve been a part of the love — and the giving.
For every product sold, Raw Sugar Living donates 1 bar of soap for families in need, up to 5 million bars yearly. So every time you buy, we give. So far, we have donated over 11 million bars of soap… and counting. We are filled with gratitude that you are on this journey of love and kindness with us. It’s never been more important to pitch in.
During the pandemic, we’ve gone to great lengths to step up our production to keep Hand Wash and Hand Sanitizer stocked in your local stores, and we continue to work with, and donate product to Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid organization that is supporting our front line, essential workers and those most in need during this crisis. We all walk this world together and we are just so thankful that through our Raw Sugar Initiative, you walk with us hand-in-hand. Here’s to 11 million and 11 million more…
