Latest news with #Jamaicans
Metro
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Alison Hammond defends Peter Andre's controversial movie Jafaican
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Alison Hammond has defended Peter Andre's controversial film saying she actually 'loved' Jafaican. The film's trailer was met immediately with controversy as Peter was blasted for fake Jamaican accent and dreadlocks wig. On This Morning on Friday, Alison and Dermot O'Leary welcomed Peter Andre and Fredi Nwaka to the couch to discuss their new movie and the backlash that it has received from fans. Alison, 50, who is of Jamaican decent said that she had seen the film and actually loved it and didn't understand the controversy as it wasn't offensive. 'I've actually seen the film and I'm going to be honest with you, I actually loved the film. 'I mean I am a Jamaican, my mum was a Jamaican, my dad's from Jamaica, I've been to Jamaica, I've seen Jamaica, and one of the mottos of Jamaica is 'out of one, is many people. 'You get white Jamaicans, you get Chinese Jamaicans, you get Jamaicans of all colours,' she then turned to Peter and said, 'You're a white man playing a white Jamaican which is basically what you're doing. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'You're doing it out of love for your nan and I just think its lovely.' She added that she loved the film, as did her family, which Peter said meant 'a lot' to him. She then encouraged people to actually watch the film and not just base their judgements which was created to kickstart a conversation to amp up the anticipation for the film. The film sees Peter play a 'wheeler-dealer', Gary Buckle, a man who attempts to insert himself into Jamaican culture as a bizarre con to try and secure some money for his ageing granny. It's been teased: 'Desperate to secure £35,000 for his gran's care, small-time crook Gazza jumps on a risky tip-off and hatches a daring scam. 'With just 21 days to pull it off, he must immerse himself in Jamaican culture to con his way between London and Jamaica.' Peter has spoken out previously about the controversy around the film, saying that it was supposed to be lighthearted. On Channel 7 in Australia, he said: 'So for me, it's acting – I get to do something light-hearted, something funny. Something that y'know is the kind of film I'd wanna watch. So it's almost like a little bit self-indulgent in the sense that I get to do something that I've really, really wanted to do.' More Trending He also told The Sun that he was bullied as a child in Australia because of his darker Greek complexion 'I remember the bullying and the racism we suffered as kids in Australia and how tough that was. 'But it gave me a deep understanding of what's truly offensive and what's not. If someone dressed up with a curly wig and a big nose, doing a Greek accent, I'd probably laugh – it depends on the intention. View More » 'But if someone said 'I hate you Greeks' or made hateful comments about our skin, that's where the line is. That's racism.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Lorraine fans can't get enough of Alexander Skarsgard's 'wacky' outfit MORE: 'Highly offensive' ITV show set for second series despite police backlash MORE: Lorraine viewers annoyed by 'more irritating than normal' interview
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How New York's UBS Arena Is Helping to Raise the Commercial Ceiling for Caribbean-Headlined Shows
While stadium shows dominate this year's live music headlines, there's another interesting trend occurring at the arena level that's signaling a new frontier for the live music industry – and it's steeped in the sweet riddims of the Caribbean. Vybz Kartel's victorious comeback has dominated most of the conversation around Caribbean music this year, but Worl' Boss' two-night stint at Brooklyn's Barclays Center came nearly a year after a string of historic headlining shows that have made Elmont's UBS Arena New York's hottest new venue for Caribbean acts. Elmont (a neighborhood that sits on the edge of Queens and Long Island) and Brooklyn are two New York City areas densely populated by Caribbean-Americans, which echoes the incredible impact of Caribbean immigrants across the city. You'll find Dominicans in Manhattan's Washington Heights; Jamaicans, Lucians and Trinis galore in Brooklyn's Flatbush neighborhood; and at least one flag from every country in the West Indies along Eastern Parkway in BK. More from Billboard The Return of Vybz Kartel: After 13 Years in Prison, Dancehall's King Reclaims His Throne — And Reveals How He Made Hits Behind Bars Tory Lanez Is Being Transferred to a New Prison After Being Stabbed, His Dad Says Aaron Paul Opens Up About Tracking Down Tour Managers to Get Bands to Perform in His Living Room Last spring (April 14, 2024) — about eight months before he made history with NPR's very first Tiny Desk soca set – Machel Montano headlined UBS Arena for a 40-year career anniversary concert hosted by Caribbean Concerts & Sonjay Maharaj Events. Coming two years after the King of Soca teamed up with Jermaine Magras, president and CEO of Jay Upscale Marketing and Promotions, for Barclays Center's first-ever soca headlining concert, Machel's sold-out UBS show grossed over $885,000 from 8,350 tickets sold, according to Billboard Boxscore. That show kicked off a head-turning run of Caribbean-headlined shows at the four-year-old arena. Just three months after Machel lit up Elmont, Grammy-winning reggae and dancehall legend Buju Banton mounted a pair of sold-out shows that served as his first U.S. concerts since his 2011 incarceration. The two shows grossed $4.5 million from nearly 30,000 tickets sold, setting the scene for a historic close to UBS Arena's 2024 run of Caribbean-headlined shows. 'Stepping into UBS Arena for the first time in my life was much more than I expected,' reflects Montano, who's previously performed at NYC's two other major arenas. 'I hadn't heard about the venue before, and I was in anticipation to see what the vibe [would] be. The production setup was wonderful, the backstage experience in the dressing rooms, the staff, everybody [and everything] was professional and on point to welcome soca music and the soca vibration.' A few days before the world rang in 2025, iconic Haitian konpa band Carimi reunited for its first live performance in eight years at UBS Arena. Comprised of founding members Richard Cavé, Mickael Guirand, and Carlo Vieux, Carimi is something like 'the Jackson 5 or the Backstreet Boys of the Haitian community,' says Magras. 'They're [their] R&B boy band.' In the nearly two-and-a-half decades since they formed in NYC back in 2001, Carimi has achieved international success through its blend of sociopolitical commentary and traditional konpa rhythms. Their 2013 Invasion LP reached No. 2 on World Albums, and their eight-album strong catalog continues to enamor konpa lovers across generations. While their Dec. 27 concert didn't launch a full comeback, the show did mark the first U.S. arena show headlined by a Haitian act – and the band completely sold out the venue. With over 15,000 tickets sold, Carimi's reunion show grossed over $2.4 million. The Carimi show is an interesting nexus point for many reasons, mostly because of the band's connection to the demographic breakdown of the Elmont neighborhood in which UBS resides. In Elmont, you'll find a large Haitian population that's even bigger than the already sizable number reported by the U.S. Census. The nature of cities like New York is that the census only tells a part of the story regarding the demographic breakdown of the city's residents. 'With the Caribbean community, a lot of people tend to look at the census — but if you're undocumented, you ain't trying to give the government your information. It's a benchmark, but it's not that accurate,' explains Magras. 'When we did a heat map of ticket sales for the Carimi show, a majority of people buying tickets came from Queens, in and around UBS [in Elmont].' Now that America's Caribbean population – spearheaded by a massive post-Civil Rights Era immigration wave, and, later, a 1980s and '90s wave — has established itself across several generations, they have the numbers and buying power to assert themselves as dedicated consumers in the live music space. Before his current position as senior vice president of programming at UBS Arena, Mark Shulman spent over 25 years promoting shows across New York, including storied venues like Hammerstein Ballroom and Kings Theatre – two spots with smaller capacities that Caribbean acts often frequent. While Caribbean acts still headline those venues, alongside newly renovated music halls like the Brooklyn Paramount, their graduation from theaters to arenas signals 'a maturing of the music and fan base,' according to Shulman. 'When we speak of the maturing of the audience, Caribbean shows were always late-selling events,' he explains. 'Now, we're seeing more advanced sales, and that enables the artist to plan better. They get to add a second show and plan accordingly, because the audience is being so proactive in their buying patterns.' The original fans of acts like Carimi and Machel Montano and Buju Banton are, by and large, in more favorable economic positions than they were two decades ago. They've gotten to root themselves in their new homes, and they likely have the disposable income to buy pricier arena tickets. But their maturation only tells half of the story of how UBS, in particular, has become such a hotbed for Caribbean headliners. For Valentine's Day 2025 (Feb. 14), Grammy-nominated reggae giant Beres Hammond, Billboard Hot 100-topping reggae icon Shaggy and Grammy-winning dancehall legend Sean Paul teamed up for a joint concert that grossed over $1.6 million from 12,980 tickets sold. The following month (March 28), WAV Music Fest – featuring Spice, Dexta Daps, Chronic Law, Kranium, Skeng, Kraff and Valiant – grossed over $1.2 million from 10,360 sold. With five $1 million-grossing Caribbean-headlined shows in eight months, UBS Arena has emerged as not just a go-to spot for Caribbean acts stopping in NYC but also as a key venue in the evolution of Stateside Caribbean music consumption. And the arena's management did it by embracing the existing immigrant population in an era where rampant gentrification seeks to stifle New York's quintessential diversity. Before UBS opened its doors in 2021, most arena acts across genres chose between performing at Midtown Manhattan's Madison Square Garden and Downtown Brooklyn's Barclays Center, which has only been around for 13 years. Prior to the turn of the decade, very few, if any, Caribbean acts were playing arena shows, period. Thanks to the increasing Stateside popularity of contemporary reggae, dancehall, soca and konpa music — and the opening of UBS — Caribbean acts are now getting an opportunity that they weren't granted in the past. Of course, NYC's Caribbean population doesn't exclusively attend Caribbean-headlined shows. If they wanted to see arena acts before 2020, those folks, who primarily live in Brooklyn (outside of downtown) and Queens, would either have to trek into the city to hit The Garden or waste away hours in downtown traffic. Thanks to its location, UBS is a venue that's comparatively more easily accessible for the city's Caribbean crowd. It's also the only NYC-area arena with its own parking lot, a key draw for attendees who would rather hop in their cars than deal with the subway. 'When you get [to Barclays], you gotta look for parking,' says Magras. 'The time that it takes me to [travel within] Brooklyn is probably the same time it takes me to jump on the belt and head to UBS. I think the customer weighs all those things out.' While consumers get to cut down on travel time, promoters and artists also get to save a few dollars when mounting shows at UBS instead of Barclays or The Garden. Promoted by George Crooks' Jammins Events, Banton's dual comeback shows, which cost around a million dollars each, would have been at least $500,000 more expensive had they gone up at The Garden. 'You're paying for the location and the brand, you can't take that away from [MSG],' he said. 'But it's very expensive. UBS is a lot more reasonable, and I hope it stays that way.' As the arena continues to grow in popularity, it's certainly likely that it'll become more expensive to mount shows there, which is probably why UBS banks on their accommodating nature to keep artists at their venue. Ahead of the Carimi show, Shulman 'personally got on a Zoom with all the band members [to] hear their thoughts and hopes for the show and how [UBS] could accommodate them in any way possible.' Magras, whose Jay Upscale company promoted the Carimi show, seconds that sentiment, noting how willing the UBS team was to educate themselves on the band via the decks he pitched. '[UBS] was more accommodating than probably any other venue that I've worked with,' he tells Billboard. 'It was never 'no' as a final answer — they always helped find a way to make things work. [To help promote the show, they helped secure] comedians, a conference with about five media houses, the Carimi guys, lights and everything.' Crooks also echoes those feelings, saying, 'Mark understands the business because he comes from doing business with a lot of Caribbean acts.' But it's not just Shulman's experience that helped UBS so quickly become a stronghold for Caribbean headliners; it's also the care he and his team take in listening to the arena's staff, a notable chunk of whom are local Caribbean-Americans themselves. '30% of our staff come from the local community,' Shulman says. 'I would have conversations with them about soca music and reggae and konpa, and it was great to hear from them. I can [call on] my music experience, but it's so much more validating when I can speak to members of the community who live with this music. That type of knowledge and experience can't be replicated just by doing some research.' UBS' open relationship with their staff also mirrors the dynamic they've fostered with local vendors, navigating the present-day live music venue ecosystem with a distinctly Caribbean and community-centric approach. When Caribbean shows visit UBS, the arena rotates its in-house food and drink vendors with items that correlate to the nationality of the headlining act; they also invite local food trucks and businesses to set up activations in their expansive parking lot. It's a relatively minor move that only makes the arena feel more 'of the people' than its competitors. (Crooks acknowledges that the venue's efficacy in this area still can vary between shows, saying he and his team head 'some interaction with local vendors [for the Banton shows], but not as much as [they] would have liked to.') And the arena's staff also understands the importance of not overstepping its bounds when it comes to engaging with the culture. 'When you look at Caribbean people, they're natural entrepreneurs,' notes Magras. 'Once we see that there's something big going on, we all converge and find [different] ways to make money. There [were] about 10 after-parties [for the Carimi show] — we [hosted] none. Why? Because we understand the ecosystem and what it means for other people to make money as well. We could have sold flags, but we allowed the flag man to sell his. We [also] brought in Haitian food vendors and liquors and barbeque brands.' With two additional Caribbean-headlined shows this year – Aidonia (May 3) and Beenie Man (May 24) – UBS is looking to continue its hot streak in 2025 as various styles of Caribbean music ride a crossover wave that's carrying the next generation of stars. From Yung Bredda's Zess-infused soca hit 'The Greatest Bend Over' and Moliy's Billboard chart-topping Afro-dancehall smash 'Shake It to the Max' to YG Marley's reggae anthem 'Praise Jah in the Moonlight' and Joé Dwèt Filé's globe-conquering konpa banger '4 Kampé,' the 2020s are offering up a slate of stars that could be the next Caribbean headliners to grace UBS – and arenas across the country. They could even make that jump in the next 12 months, according to Shulman, as the success of Caribbean legacy acts eases promoters' qualms about taking on younger stars – like Shenseea or Dexta Daps – looking to make the leap from support acts to headliners. In just four years, UBS has become a preferred New York tour stop for Caribbean headliners – so much so that scheduling conflicts were the only barrier stopping the arena from hosting Kartel's comeback shows – by leveraging its location, nourishing their relationship with the local population, and understanding the limitless potential of Caribbean talent. As the arena has established a distinct identity, it's also helped buoy an entire region's music, which was already creeping into a new era of Stateside crossover success. But what about arena stops outside of New York? Last year, Buju Banton announced his Overcomer Tour, which was initially set to visit 14 arenas across the U.S. Ultimately, three shows were outright cancelled while a further five engagements have yet to have their rescheduled dates announced. Of the seven shows that he did perform on the tour, Banton grossed an average of $1.5 million per show from around 10,800 tickets sold. Notably, those seven shows visited North American cities with sizable Caribbean populations – NYC, Atlanta, Tampa, Toronto and Washington, D.C. — signaling that future Caribbean tours might not yet have accrued the power to headline arenas outside of specific areas. Nonetheless, a Caribbean act headlining seven North American arenas on a single tour indisputably marks a new era for West Indians in the live music space. 'I think the sky's the limit [for Caribbean acts in the live music space],' stresses Shulman. 'I've seen the growth and I've seen the performances. The shows are energetic, the fans are enthusiastic, and there's an incredible vibe. It's hard to envision any limit to just how high it can go.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Business Mayor
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Millennial entrepreneur raised $2 million for a money-saving app for immigrants
Nina Mohanty, founder of Bloom Money. Bloom Money One millennial entrepreneur raised $2 million to build a financial app catered to traditional money-saving methods used by immigrant communities in the West. Silicon Valley native Nina Mohanty founded Bloom Money in 2021, a fintech app designed to support U.K.-based immigrant communities to save money collaboratively, also known as 'money circles' or rotating savings and credit associations (ROSCA). The 32-year-old founder has raised £1.5 million ($2 million) in venture capital to build Bloom Money. Mohanty, who has lived in the U.K. for a decade and worked at banks like Starling Bank, Klarna and Mastercard, says mainstream banks don't understand how immigrant communities manage their money. 'At a certain point I just realized I got very frustrated wondering who was building for immigrant communities because I was building the same product for the same person all the time,' Mohanty said in an interview with CNBC Make It. Mohanty pointed out that when it comes to money, much of the innovation for immigrant communities is focused on remittance as many transfer money to families in their home countries. 'I kept scratching my head and wondering, why is all the innovation about sending money away and not actually about pooling resources and building wealth here?' Immigrant communities save differently Immigrants tend to save money differently — rather than relying on mainstream options like high-interest savings accounts or taking loans from a bank, they rely on community and collaboration. 'I would speak to bus drivers on their cigarette breaks or aunties that are cleaning offices and ask them how they were managing their money and I kept coming across this thing where people were pooling funds together,' she explained. Read More Biden's Race Against a Cure This informal pooling system involves a group of people who commit to saving money together. For example, three friends agree to each pay $100 a month into a savings pot, making a total of $300. The first month, one friend gets access to the full $300, which can be spent on a plane ticket home, new shoes for the kids, or even on investing in a business, among other things. The next month, the second friend gets to use the $300. The rotation continues until each person gets the opportunity to spend the $300. The group can agree to continue the cycle for as long as they need. 'It's academically called a roster or a rotating savings and credit association [ROSCA], but it's very community-led. It's very socially led,' Mohanty said, adding that a number of ethnic groups have a name for the practice. For example, it's known as a chit fund by Indians; 'pardner' by Jamaicans; 'kameti' by Pakistanis; 'ajo' or 'esusu' by Nigerians; and 'hagbad' by Somalis. Mohanty pointed out that immigrant communities often faced discrimination within the financial system. 'In this country [U.K.], Jamaicans, for example, used to do this. When the Windrush generation first came over, because the banks wouldn't lend to them, they would effectively build this microcredit within their own communities.' Ethnic minorities in the U.K. still report facing discrimination. A 2023 report by the non-profit organization Fair4All Finance — which included a survey of 1,005 U.K. adults from ethnic minority groups and 1,182 white, British adults — found that one in five people from minority ethnic groups said they experienced racial discrimination when dealing with financial providers. On top of that, 28% say they think that the way things work at financial organizations means ethnic minorities are more likely to be treated unfairly. 'This looks like money laundering' Although rotating savings have served as an informal but reliable system within immigrant communities, Mohanty highlighted various issues, such as a lack of regulation, especially when dealing with cash in hand. 'There's a clear gap here and we have the tech to be able to do this digitally,' Mohanty explained. A few apps have emerged internationally to cater to this traditional savings method, including Egyptian money circles app Moneyfellows and Hakbah, an alternative financial savings app based in Saudi Arabia. Bloom Money caters specifically to immigrant communities in the U.K. 'who are straddling providing for two households' the company said. Users can create a circle and invite others to participate in that circle. 'That whole account is for the benefit of everyone that's in the group,' Mohanty said. 'You're less likely to have a situation with someone taking the money and running home.' And though it's possible to manage a rotating money savings system via mainstream banks, the behavior was often flagged as 'suspicious' when she worked at Monzo, Mohanty said. 'They were looking at this and going 'What is this? This looks like money laundering.' And so they would actually start shutting down accounts. If you don't know what the behavior is, it's going to look suspicious, but for us, we literally built the product around this behavior.' Rotating savings 'doesn't fit into the Western construct,' Mohanty said, adding that the creation of Bloom Money is a 'fight for a more diverse formal financial system.' Building generational wealth Bloom has aims that go beyond digitalizing the rotation of savings. It wants to build investment products, as many immigrants are so focused on sending money home that it comes at the expense of wealth planning for future generations. Read More AB InBev Delivered a Robust Profit in 1Q 'They're not necessarily planning for their future or their next generation so imagine if our parents hadn't saved or hadn't put money into their pension pots or investment clubs and so we want to now make it so that people can build their wealth,' Mohanty said. The Fair4All Finance report showed that compared with white, British people, ethnic minorities were less likely to have savings or investment accounts, and workplace pensions. 'Some experts highlighted that characteristics of minority ethnic groups can mean they are more likely to have 'thin files' with little credit history, so difficult to make a credit judgement to produce a credible credit score,' the report said. 'Positive behaviours such as regular remittances or taking part in informal savings circles do not contribute [to credit profiles] and we even found fears these could count against people.' Now Bloom Money is building users' credit profiles to lend money to them to help them invest in their pension pots or gold and 'build financial services that are fit for diaspora who are straddling countries.' Mohanty said the company hopes to 'make it as easy as clicking a button to say 'You've received your payout from your Bloom circle. Why don't you invest it into your pension?'' Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the banks where Mohanty has worked, and to clarify the definition of a ROSCA.
Time Business News
13-05-2025
- Health
- Time Business News
aThe Secret Wellness Weapon Hiding in the Ocean: Irish Sea Moss
Irish Sea Moss has over 90 minerals and key nutrients. People have used it for hundreds of years as medicine. It may help your immune system, digestion, thyroid, and skin. Science is still learning about it. You can use it as gel, powder, or pills. It's easy to add to your daily health plan. The Atlantic Ocean holds a special red seaweed. It's called Irish Sea Moss. Early coastal people knew about it for hundreds of years. This plant may look plain at first. It's just a spiny plant moving with ocean waves. But this simple plant is packed with good stuff for our health. Irish Sea Moss has traveled a long way. It went from Irish shores to health stores around the world. It changed from an old remedy to a popular health food. But does it really work? What good things does this ocean plant give us? Why do famous people and health experts use it? Let's look deeper at Irish Sea Moss. It's full of nutrients and helps in many ways. It might be just what you need for better health. Irish Sea Moss grows in the rocky Atlantic Ocean. It's a type of red algae that soaks up sea minerals. It has 92 of the 102 minerals our bodies need. Irish Sea Moss grows in the rocky Atlantic Ocean. Its real name is Chondrus crispus. It's a type of red algae. It lives between North America and Europe. It's not just found in Ireland. This seaweed grows on many cold Atlantic shores. This plant does something amazing. It soaks up minerals from the sea. It becomes full of ocean nutrients. It has fan-like thin parts. The color can be green-yellow to dark purple. This depends on where it grows. Irish Sea Moss has lots of good things in it. This small seaweed has many vitamins and minerals: It has calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It also has iodine and zinc. It gives you vitamins A, C, E, K, and B vitamins. It has some plant protein with amino acids. It offers fiber that helps your digestion. It's low in calories, with about 53 per 100 grams. It has almost no fat. The most amazing fact is this. Irish Sea Moss has 92 of 102 minerals our bodies need. This makes it one of the most complete foods in nature. People knew this plant was good before science proved it. In Ireland, during the potato famine, sea moss was vital. It helped people survive. Irish families got it from the shore. They boiled it with milk. They added honey to make a healthy drink. Other places used sea moss too. People in the Caribbean used it for breathing problems. Jamaicans drank it for male strength. European coast people used it for stomach issues. This long history shows us something. People always knew the ocean could heal. Modern science now agrees with this old wisdom. Sea moss helps your body in many ways. It supports your immune system and helps digestion. It also helps your thyroid and skin health. We all want to stay healthy today. Irish Sea Moss can help with this: It has lots of vitamin C. This helps make white blood cells. These cells fight germs. Sea moss also has antioxidants. These fight stress in your cells. Studies show sea moss may stop some bad germs. A study in a science journal found this. Red seaweeds like sea moss may weaken harmful bacteria. Sea moss gives you plant-based immune support. It has many nutrients that help your body fight illness. Sea moss helps your digestion in special ways: It has soluble fiber that feeds good gut bacteria. This helps keep you regular. It supports your gut health. Sea moss forms a gel. This comes from its natural carrageenan. The gel can soothe your digestive tract. It may calm irritation. It helps protect your gut lining. Sea moss may ease stomach discomfort. It gives you key nutrients. These support the complex system in your gut. Your thyroid controls metabolism and energy: Sea moss has natural iodine. Your body needs this for thyroid hormones. Too much can cause problems. But the right amount from sea moss helps thyroid function. Sea moss has more than just iodine. It has selenium and zinc too. These also help your thyroid work well. Many people have thyroid issues. Sea moss gives whole-food nutrients. This is better than taking just one supplement. Sea moss helps you look good too: The minerals and water in sea moss help skin health. It has sulfur that fights germs. This may help with acne. Its vitamins support collagen. This keeps skin elastic. Many say their hair grows better with sea moss. This may be from zinc and vitamins A and E. These nutrients help healthy hair growth. Beauty companies have noticed. They put sea moss in skin products. It adds minerals and keeps skin moist. Sea moss helps active people too: It has compounds that reduce swelling. This can help after exercise. It may speed up recovery. Sea moss has nutrients for joint health. These include calcium and magnesium. It also has sulfur. These help build healthy tissue. Athletes may find sea moss helpful. It's a natural aid for recovery. It supports both workouts and rest. Sea moss helps your heart too: The fiber in sea moss helps manage cholesterol. This is key for heart health. It also has potassium. This helps keep blood pressure normal. Studies suggest sea moss may reduce heart risk factors. Its anti-swelling properties support heart function. Sea moss offers unique support for your heart. It can be part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. You can use sea moss in many ways. You can make gel, take supplements, or apply it to your skin. Each method gives you different benefits. Sea moss gel is the most popular way to use this seaweed: First, rinse dried sea moss well. Soak it in fresh water for 24 hours. Change the water now and then. Blend it with fresh water. Put it in the fridge until it forms a gel. Add 1-2 spoons of gel to smoothies or soups. Use it in sauces or desserts. It makes them thicker. It has almost no taste. But it adds lots of nutrients. Keep the gel in a glass jar in the fridge. It lasts 2-3 weeks. You can freeze it in ice cube trays too. This keeps it good longer. Sea moss gel works in many recipes. It doesn't change the taste much. But it adds lots of good nutrition. Some people want an easier way to take sea moss: You can take sea moss as pills or tablets. Look for good brands. Check where they get their sea moss. See how they make their products. You can also get sea moss powder. Add it to drinks or baked goods. Sprinkle it on food for more nutrients. Some brands make sea moss gummies. These taste good. They make taking sea moss more fun. When buying supplements, choose tested products. Make sure they say where their sea moss comes from. You can put sea moss on your skin and hair too: Make a face mask with sea moss gel. Add a drop of essential oil. This gives your skin moisture. Put sea moss gel on your hair before washing. It's a mineral-rich hair mask. Add it to homemade body creams. It gives skin-feeding benefits. Using it on your skin lets it absorb minerals. This works with the benefits of eating it. Not all sea moss is the same quality. Where it comes from matters a lot. Look for sea moss from clean Atlantic waters. Where your sea moss comes from matters: Wild sea moss is often best. It grows in natural waters. It absorbs minerals from clean ocean water. Look for sea moss from clean Atlantic areas. Some sea moss grows in pools. This costs less but may have fewer minerals. Some makers add minerals to pool water. But this isn't the same as natural growth. The best sea moss comes from the Atlantic. Good sources include Ireland and Maine. Some Caribbean nations with sea moss history are good too. You can tell good sea moss by how it looks and feels: Real sea moss varies in color. It can be gold, purple, red, or green. This depends on where it grew. If the color looks too bright, it may be fake. When dry, it should be a bit crisp. It shouldn't break too easily. You should see the plant structure. Good sea moss tastes mildly like ocean. It shouldn't be too salty. Too much salt means poor washing. Check these things to get real sea moss. This ensures you get the best nutrition. For the purest sea moss: Some sea moss has organic certification. Not all wild sea moss can get this. But this label may mean fewer pollutants. Good suppliers test for heavy metals. Seaweeds can soak up toxins. Testing shows the sea moss is clean. The best companies share information. They tell you where they get their sea moss. They explain how they process it. They show test results. Better quality sea moss costs more. But it often has more nutrients. It also has fewer bad substances. Sea moss is good for most people. But you should know a few things first. Start with a small amount to see how your body reacts. Sea moss has iodine for thyroid health. But you need the right amount: Some people are sensitive to iodine. If you have thyroid issues, talk to a doctor first. Start with small amounts of sea moss. Try 1-2 spoons of gel daily. See how your body reacts. Balance is important here. Sea moss can help thyroid health. But it may not work for everyone. Be careful with any new supplement: Sea moss may affect blood-thinning drugs. It has natural blood-thinning properties. We don't know much about sea moss in pregnancy. We also don't know about breastfeeding. Be careful if this applies to you. If you have health problems, ask a doctor. Do this before trying sea moss. Always be careful with new supplements. This is very true if you take medicine or have health issues. Scientists are studying sea moss more each year. New research shows it may help with many health issues. This includes both old uses and new discoveries. Scientists are studying sea moss more: There are ongoing studies about sea moss. They look at how it might help with many health issues. These include metabolism problems and brain diseases. Modern science is proving old uses. Sea moss has been used for hundreds of years. Science now shows why it works. Research looks at growing sea moss well. As more people want it, we need to protect wild areas. We need to grow it in a way that doesn't harm nature. Sea moss is leading the way. It shows how ocean plants can help our health. As we learn more, we'll find more ways to use it. Irish Sea Moss bridges old wisdom and new science. It went from survival food to popular health food. It shows how nature gives us complex nutrition in simple forms. As we learn more about ocean healing, Irish Sea Moss stands out. It has fed coastal people for many years. It can help your immune system and digestion. It's a natural way to get more nutrients. This seaweed gives you minerals and versatility. The ocean teaches us about nutrition and health. Irish Sea Moss reminds us of our link to the sea. This link still feeds and supports us in new ways. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Otago Daily Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Silver Ferns coach's Australian foray allows her to ‘stay sharp'
Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua has been spreading her wings across the Ditch. Taurua returned home yesterday after a three-week professional development stint with the New South Wales Swifts, strengthening the connection between the Silver Ferns and the Australian Super Netball club. The Swifts are home to Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke and coach Briony Akle, who is a specialist coach with the Silver Ferns. Taurua previously spent nine days as a specialist with the club last season. Taurua joined the Swifts for their past three games, the Swifts beating the Adelaide Thunderbirds 65-57, the Queensland Firebirds 71-63 and the Melbourne Vixens 59-51 to remain the only unbeaten team after five games. Those games allowed Taurua to sight Jamaicans Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, who is now pregnant, Latanya Wilson and Romelda Aiken-George, Ugandan shooter Mary Cholhok and English Roses Imogen Allison and Helen Housby. Netball New Zealand head of high performance Stephen Hotter said the relationship benefited everyone and helped build connections. ''Coaching opportunities such as this engagement are essential for Dame Noeline to stay sharp and engaged at an elite level during the domestic season,'' Hotter said. ''It also enables Noeline to observe top international talent and note the progress that they've made in their game and it enables us to stay connected and support Grace where needed.'' Taurua had been impressed by Nweke's performances in the tough league, where she already looked fitter, stronger and had adjusted her game. Nweke leads the competition with 249 goals from 266 attempts — Melbourne Mavericks Jamaican shooter Shimona Jok is next on 235 — and is third for offensive rebounds with 15. Nweke is ineligible to play internationally at present due to NNZ criteria requiring players to hone their craft domestically in New Zealand. Taurua told Newstalk ZB last week her stance had not changed on wanting Nweke to be available for the Silver Ferns, but understood the NNZ board's point of view as well. She hoped they could meet in the middle in the near future. Taurua is no stranger to the Australian league. She was the inaugural coach of the Sunshine Coast Lightning and led them to back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. She returned home in time for the ANZ Premiership season, which got under way at the weekend.
