NOT EVERYTHING THAT'S COMMON...IS NATURAL

Are Your Allergies Really Only About You? Think Again.

Have you ever wondered if your allergies are caused solely by something “inherent” within you? The truth might surprise you.

Did you know?

Back in the late 1940s, urban planners made a decision that still impacts our health today. According to recommendations published in the USDA yearbook, city planners were advised to limit the planting of female trees along streets. Why? To avoid the hassle of cleaning up fruits and seeds that female trees produce. The solution? Plant mostly male trees, which release vast amounts of pollen.

This practice, sometimes called botanical sexism, reflects a clear bias—choosing one “sex” of trees over the other—highlighting that even plants are subject to societal patterns like patriarchy.

But here’s the catch: male trees produce excessive pollen, and this overwhelming pollen presence is a significant contributor to the rise in allergies and asthma, especially in sprawling urban environments.

Not everything common is natural.

By favoring male trees, we disrupted a natural balance in our environment. This has led to increased respiratory illnesses, diminished biodiversity, and potentially adverse effects on food chains and wildlife habitats.

So why should this matter to you?

When it comes to your health and wellness, it’s crucial to look beyond the surface. What you might think is “just how it is” could actually be a symptom of broader environmental and systemic issues. You’re not alone in your struggles, yet you also weren’t necessarily meant to live with them.

Be curious. Be your own investigator. There’s always a deeper why behind what you’re experiencing—it’s about digging a bit further to uncover the root cause.

If you’re ready to move beyond surface symptoms and truly understand what’s behind your health challenges, here are some actionable steps you can take:

• Keep a Detailed Health & Lifestyle Journal

Track your daily habits including what you eat, how much you sleep, your stress levels, physical activity, and symptoms you experience. Patterns often emerge when you look back, revealing triggers or environmental factors you might not have noticed before.

• Evaluate Your Environment

Consider your surroundings—your home, workplace, and neighborhood. Are there pollutants, allergens, or lifestyle factors (like urban tree pollen or mold) contributing to your symptoms? Small environmental changes can sometimes have a big impact.

• Seek Comprehensive Testing & Professional Guidance

Work with a healthcare provider who specializes in functional or integrative medicine. They can order tests that look beyond typical markers, such as food sensitivities, gut health, hormone imbalances, or heavy metal exposure, helping you identify hidden contributors.

• Practice Mindful Self-Inquiry

Take time for reflection or journaling that goes beyond physical symptoms: Are there emotional, mental, or social stressors playing a role? Stress and unresolved emotions can often manifest physically and exacerbate health problems.

• Experiment with Elimination and Reintroduction

Carefully removing suspected triggers—such as specific foods, chemicals, or habits—and then slowly reintroducing them can help identify what aggravates or improves your condition. Always do this thoughtfully and preferably under guidance.

Remember, your body and environment are communicating with you. By listening closely and exploring deeply, you empower yourself to move towards lasting wellness and freedom from recurring issues.

Now, I want to hear from you:

Is there something you’re dealing with that feels common but somehow unnatural? Hit reply and share your story—I read every message and am here to listen.

Here’s What’s Happening This Week:

🌿 We are not at Piedmont Market This Weekend ​
🌿 Join the Hydration Challenge and begin measuring your water to get the results​
🌿 Enjoy Our New Menu for August 17th-30th Meal Prep Menu​
🌿 Check out our New Beee Well Tip of the Week

Sending you love in every bite, and peace in every choice. With a heart full of gratitude and care,

Essentially Chef Beee 🌱​
Your Lifestyle Medicine Wellness Coach & Plant-Based Chef

YOU CAN'T CHANGE WHAT YOU'RE NOT MEASURING

This lovely young lady came out to one of our farmers markets. She was visiting from Texas and I asked her if she drinks enough water each day. She sounded pretty confident in the beginning of our conversation, but then really started to question if she did as we continued speaking to each other. She wasn't sure because she wasn't consistently measuring the amount she was drinking. How many of us are like this? Check out the post here our engagement: Instagram Post Here: "How Sure Are You That Your Drinking The Proper Amount of Water?"​

If you want to learn how to properly hydrate daily, then join our upcoming water challenge. The next Address Your Thirst First Hydration Challenge - Cycle 3 starts on September 1-21st. Tell a friend, join with them and get on the road to proper hydration. Your kidneys will thank you for it. To learn more about the Hydration Challenge, visit the link below.

WEEKEND HAPPENINGS & UPCOMING EVENTS FOR AUGUST

🌿Join us at one of our Farmers Markets this Weekend💚

Here are the locations of the markets for this weekend:

📍FARM FRESH FRIDAYS at

PATCHWORK CITY FARMS 🌱

Location: 902 Pinehurst Terrace, Atlanta, GA

⏰Time: 3:00pm-6:00pm EST

Date: Fridays

AND

📍GREEN MARKET AT PIEDMONT PARK 🌱

We will not be attending Piedmont Market

AND

📍FRESH MARKET at

OYUN BOTANICAL GARDENS 🌱

Location: 3353 Washington Road, East Point, GA

⏰ Time: 11:00am-6:00pm EST

Date: Saturdays

We will have the following items at market:

MARKET MENU

MEALS

🌱Vegetable Curry Bowls - Only at Patchwork City Farms

🌱Not Your Average Nori Rolls - Only at Oyun Botanical Gardens

SIGNATURE DRINKS

🌱Cucumber Limeade

🌱Sorrel Lime Cooler

🌱Watermelon Ginger Cooler

SNACKS

🌱Savory Vegetable Pastries

🌱RawHead Bread Crackers

EXTRAS

🌱Kale Salad Dressing

🌱Erzuli Black Soap

🌱New Body Products CKLS

🌱"Let Plants Nourish You" Cookbooks

🌱Farmers Market Baskets from Ghana

🌿Meal Prep Fundays Cooking Class This Weekend and Next💚

🎉🌿FIVE REASONS TO BOOK A COOKING CLASS WITH BEEE:

🌱Do Something Fun and Different with Ya Girls

🌱Learn How to Minimize Food Waste and Repurpose Plant-Based Ingredients

🌱Learn New Skills to Save You Time

🌱Get all the TEA on Healthy Living from Chef Beee

🌱Make Meals for the Week that You Can Take Home

August Dates for Meal Prep Fundays Cooking Class are now here:

🌱COMFORT FOODS - August 16th at 4:00pm EST
🌱JUICING - August 23rd at 4:00pm EST

Visit The Healing Me First website to book your next class and to see all of our other offerings. 🌿🎉✨

MENU FOR AUGUST 17-30TH OUT NOW!

✨🎉🌿 Enjoy our New Meal Prep Menu offerings for August 17th-30th. Place all orders by Saturday at 5:00pm EST to ensure you don't miss out on a culinary experience. Pick-ups and Local Delivery will begin on Sunday afternoon.

We also offer Private Chef Services. If you are looking for streamlined meals beyond our Essential Meals 2Go? Our Private Chef services offer personalized, made-for-you meal plans — perfect for busy lifestyles. Feel free to reach out and Book a Private Chef Discovery Call->Here​. 🌿🎉✨

BEEE WELL WEEKLY TIP:

Pay Attention to What You’ve Stopped Noticing

We get used to things. The slight bloat after lunch. The mid-afternoon crash. Waking up still tired. When these patterns repeat long enough, they fade into the background — becoming your “normal.”

But here’s the truth: your body was not designed to feel “just okay.” It was designed to feel vibrant, clear, and at ease. If you’ve stopped noticing the small signals, it doesn’t mean they’ve gone away. It means your body is still speaking… and you’ve stopped listening.

🌿 What You Might Be Overlooking:

• Daily fatigue — Your energy should rise and fall naturally, not drop like a stone after lunch.
• Frequent digestive discomfort — Gas, bloating, or heartburn aren’t part of healthy digestion.
• Persistent cravings — They can be a sign your body is missing key nutrients.
• Mood swings or brain fog — Often linked to blood sugar imbalance, dehydration, or nutrient deficiencies.

💛 Here’s Your Next Step:​
Once you notice, don’t just shrug it off — respond.

• Keep a simple “body log” for a week: jot down meals, energy levels, mood, and digestion. Patterns will reveal themselves.
• Crowd in more whole foods — Add fresh greens, berries, whole grains, and plant-based proteins to crowd out processed, nutrient-empty foods.
• Hydrate on purpose — Start your day with water or herbal tea before coffee, and keep water-rich foods (cucumber, citrus, melon) in rotation.
• Pause for stress breaks — Even 3 minutes of deep breathing can shift your body’s chemistry.
• Protect your rest — Commit to a bedtime that gives you at least 7–8 hours of sleep.

When you tune back in and make small, consistent shifts, you move from “getting by” to living in your body’s natural state of balance. And that’s when you start to feel better than normal.

📆 Ready to reconnect with what your body’s been telling you?
​​
Book a wellness consultation with me today. Let’s uncover the signals you’ve been overlooking and create a plan that supports your energy, digestion, and well-being from the inside out.