1. Make a point to wash your feet (and between your toes!) with a washcloth carefully and regularly. Yes, that means bending over in the shower to soap them up; if you can't balance safely, use a long-handled shower brush or sit on a chair outside the tub as you wash your feet under the faucets. Be sure to dry feet completely, including between the toes. This wash-and-dry system lessens problems such as athlete's foot, odor, bacteria and fungus.
2. If you like to soak your feet, forget the Epsom salts-they're too drying and don't offer any medical benefit. Instead, just use warm (never hot) water and a little liquid soap, such as dishwashing solution, containing skin softeners.
3. Moisturize your feet after washing.During dry-skin winter months, you may want to moisturize several times a day. Nothing fancy is needed: basic lotions and creams are fine.
4. Alternate the shoes you wear each day. That may mean having two pairs of your favorite everyday style, but shoes need time to air out to avoid triggering foot odor or infections. Change socks or stockings more than once a day. If you have a problem with smelly feet, soak them in a mixture of vinegar and water.
5. Pay attention to foot pain. Your feet should not hurt--ever. Tight shoes can worsen bunions, distort toe shape and cause painful foot growths. If you wear high heels, choose heels that are wide, stable and no higher than two inches. Toe boxes should be wide; pointed toes shouldn't begin their narrowing shape until well past the ball of the foot. To protect your Achilles tendon from shortening, alternate heel heights regularly.
6. Say "No" to flip-flops! Flip-flops and completely flat shoes don't provide arch support. Neither does walking barefoot. Women are especially prone to developing flat feet, which can lead to other foot problems. To keep feet strong and healthy, minimize the amount of time you wear shoes that lack supportive arches.
7. Mother your feet. Pregnancy, aging and diabetes all affect your feet. Pregnant women need shoes with broad heels, arch support and good shock absorbency. Added pregnancy weight may cause your shoe size to change, so get your feet measured. Older women lose some of the cushioning fat on the balls of their feet; choose shoes that provide more shock protection. Diabetics can develop serious conditions related to the feet and lower legs. Check feet for any problems daily and see a podiatric physician at least annually.
8. Be cautious about having a pedicure in a salon, where cleanliness of tubs and instruments is vital. If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor before having a pedicure.

One of the most powerful, refreshing, empowering energies we possess is Sistahhood! It's the sharing, caring, bond between Black women that cannot be recreated anywhere on the planet.

Sistahhood is a knowing, an unspoken partnership that has no bounds. It is history. Calling forward the past, anchoring our memories, and reframing the present in a nourishing way.

When Sistahhood abounds, tribulations diminish and joy becomes accessible again. It is encouraging a remake when a "make do" was all we could muster. It is the wind at our backs, solid ground beneath our feet, and strong supportive arms around our waist.

My faith in Sistahhood was reaffirmed when my life-long friend Zee came to visit. In the span of three short days, a lifetime of dreams were rekindled, a heartful of sorrow was eased, and raucous laughter replaced silence.

Sistahhood is culture. Tradition. Kinship. Community. In Sistahhood, resourcefulness flows, forgiveness is plentiful, support is unwavering, and acceptance is unconditional.

Please reconnect with and reach out to the sistahs in your life--past and present. Together you will forge a brilliant future. Ashe!

Summertime is tea time! Nothing is more refreshing than a tall, ice-cold glass of tea, right? Sweet tea is the unofficial beverage of summer, with it's southern roots that have blossomed all over the country.

Typically when making tea, we reach for the grocery store variety tea bags of powdery black tea, steeped in hot water, bombarded with white sugar, and cooled over ice. There's a better, tastier way.

Loose Tea
Tea bags might seem more convenient, but I hope you'll reconsider. You see, the contents of typical tea bags are actually fragments of tea leaves and tea dust. By contrast, loose tea preserves the whole tea leaf and the essential oils it contains. Hence, the antioxidant properties of many teas remains intact--not so in most tea bags. Also, loose tea is more economical. With the prepackaged bags, you're getting a skimpier amount and an inferior product. Why not try loose tea? You can easily make your own teabags with paper infusers--a sort of envelop for loose tea like a tea bag--or an assortment of tea strainers.

Sun Tea
This time of year, I usually start the day making an assortment of tea jars to brew in the sun.(Pictured here from left to right, Cinnamon Spice, WHOLE Bush, and Sorrel Teas.) The slow steeping of the tea leaves and herbs creates a mellower flavor. And though I can't prove that the sun-kissed tea is healthier, the natural warmth of the sun infuses your tea with vitamin "V"--for "Vitality"--an extra kick I always get from the outdoor, natural light captured in each glass. But beware! Tea that is not steeped in boiling water is more prone to bacteria. So be sure not to leave tea in the sun for more than four hours, and do not prepare more than you will consume in a day. Refrigerate the tea as soon as it is ready, and keep it refrigerated.

Sweet Tea
White sugar is usually the sweetener of choice for Sweet Tea. But refined white sugar can be harmful in several ways. It can suppress your immune system, and can be a catalyst for the growth of candida and yeast infections. Why not try a natural alternative? I'm hooked on Agave Nectar (Pictured here.) It's a sweetener extracted from cactus, and has a earthy quality that's perfect for Sweet Tea. Available in both granulated and syrup forms, Agave Nectar blends effortlessly into tea--hot or iced.
Cooking With Tea
Tea is not just for drinking! I use it often as a poaching liquid for fruit to eat for breakfast, dessert, or an anytime snack. Try poaching peaches or apricots in jasmine tea, apples or pears in cinnamon tea, or orange segments in rose tea. We'll meet you over at WHOLE Express for a quick and easy recipe for Tea Poached Apricots. Yum!

And I often freeze several different teas in ice cube trays to chill tea or other beverages without dilluting them with regular ice as it melts.

WHOLE Bush Tea
We're such avid tea drinkers at WeSpeakLoudly that we've created our own custom blend of tea. It's called WHOLE Bush Tea. This tea combines the antioxidant benefits of green tea, the earthy goodness of rooibos, a refreshing kick of mint, and a touch of natural sweetness.

And it's good taste is for a good cause! The proceeds from the sale of WHOLE Bush Tea fund a breast health education project for young Black women called "YES! Young Empowered Sistahs." For more information and to purchase WHOLE Bush Tea, visit WeSpeakLoudly.