Last week I noticed a few comments on my “Coming Clean” video indicating that some of the women expressing worry when I mentioned that the dark spots some black women have on their face, neck and underarms could indicate insulin resistance and a precursor to diabetes. The condition is called Acanthosis nigricans. Here’s what it looks like:

What it means:

Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition characterized by areas of dark, velvety discoloration in body folds and creases. The affected skin can become thickened. Most often, acanthosis nigricans affects your armpits, groin and neck.

The skin changes of acanthosis nigricans (ak-an-THOE-sis NIE-grih-kuns) typically occur in people who are obese or have diabetes. Children who develop the condition are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Rarely, acanthosis nigricans can be a warning sign of a cancerous tumor in an internal organ, such as the stomach or liver.

No specific treatment is available for acanthosis nigricans. Treatment of underlying conditions may restore some of the normal color and texture to affected areas of skin. [SOURCE]

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Explore Paleo

Many of my long time readers know that I follow a mostly paleo diet, which means I stay away from rice, potatoes, white processed sugars, and wheat. I opted for this type of diet because it was easy for me to follow, and is conducive with staving off diabetes. Following a paleo diet can be confusing, especially when you start trying to shop for the foods at the grocery store. The first shock will be the realization that the majority of convenience foods are laden with sugar and wheat, so it's no surprise that so many of us have sugar and bread addictions. Our bodies are used to a cheap source of energy that will eventually be our undoing. That's why I really like this idea of Paleo Plan, a site that produces meal plans, e-books, and workout programs to help you simplify the process and make the change less intimidating. Click here to sign up for the 14-day free trial. It's free. What do you have to lose, except some extra weight and your dependence on poison sugar? Click here for the free sign up.

Go (Garden) Green

Gardening is a tremendous stress reliever and does wonders to encourage you to eat live, healthy foods and get your sugar and carbohydrate sources naturally. And you don't need a lot of space to grow greens and sprouts, which you can put into fresh juices and green and berry smoothies, which gives you HEALTHY and SUSTAINABLE energy. It's spring, so there's no excuse not to go to your local nursery and pick up some kale, spinach, tomato plants, and salad greens.

I use a combination of these greens to make a smoothie every morning and add protein powder and green supplements. I use gluten free, organic, and non-GMO products like Aloha. According to the company, "ALOHA Protein is is made with nutrient-rich protein from plants, including hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, and peas. We’ve left out “natural” or artificial flavors and articficial colors, sweeteners, or fillers. It’s just clean, pure protein." Click this link for a free month of the protein powder of your choice. Aloha also offers healthful teas, green powders, snacks and vitamins.

So let me hear it--are you ready to take charge of your health, mind and spirit?