Since DNA testing kits arrived on the market, I have often wondered what it would be like to find out where I'm from beyond the little I know that starts in Alabama as a result of the slave trade. I hear my parents talk about what they know about our lineage beyond Alabama, but nothing is official. An Airbnb survey found that more than 50% of Americans have traveled to at least one country of their origin, which lets me know I'm not the only person with a heritage trip on their mind.
I for one imagine walking the streets of Africa and potentially seeing someone that shares my features.
This bucket list item might be easier to attain since Airbnb and 23andMe have partnered. What does the partnership mean? Well, simply put, when your DNA results arrive in a three to five week timeframe, you'll also get suggestions on homes you can rent through Airbnb in the same countries as your ancestors. Pretty convenient and little creepy, right?
Companies like Airbnb, 23andMe, and Ancestry (who already offers tours that focus on your roots in European countries) are looking to capitalize on the uptick in heritage travel, which is projected to be the biggest travel trend of 2019. Airbnb says that there has been a 500 percent increase in travelers using their service to trace their roots since 2014. With 78 percent of these trips taken in pairs or solo which the home-sharing company suggests means "these are introspective journeys or an important moment to share with a significant other."
Since DNA services like 23andMe and Ancestry are not always the most accurate for those of us of African descent, a black-owned service like African Ancestry can make an ideal travel guide as their test goes beyond telling us what continent we're from but can give details on your origin African Tribe(s).
Thanks to the Internet, we use these resources to plan our own trips to our home countries with the help of Airbnb and 23and Me's dedicated section housing pages that will allow you to plan your heritage travel adventure "end-to-end". No matter how you decide to explore your heritage, there are a wealth of options out there that will bring us closer to our history and uniqueness while fueling our travel dreams.
Check out the top DNA travel destinations (outside of the US and Canada) according to Airbnb and 23andMe:
1.Brazil
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2.United Kingdom
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3.Italy
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4.Nigeria
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5.Mexico
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6.Germany
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7.Ireland
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8.Mainland China
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9.France
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10.South Korea
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11.Spain
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12.India
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Featured image by Getty Images
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Bianca Lambert is a proud Atlanta native soaking up the Los Angeles sun. She is the founder of Mae B: a stationery company for women of color and a digital content creator on a mission to elevate the voices of women of color everywhere.
This Black Woman-Owned Creative Agency Shows Us The Art Of Rebranding
Rebranding is an intricate process and very important to the success of businesses that want to change. However, before a business owner makes this decision, they should determine whether it's a rebrand or an evolution.
That's where people like Lola Adewuya come in. Lola is the founder and CEO of The Brand Doula, a brand development studio with a multidisciplinary approach to branding, social media, marketing, and design.
While an evolution is a natural progression that happens as businesses grow, a rebrand is a total change. Lola tells xoNecole, "A total rebrand is necessary when a business’s current reputation/what it’s known for is at odds with the business’s vision or direction.
"For example, if you’ve fundamentally changed what your product is and does, it’s likely that your brand is out of alignment with the business. Or, if you find your company is developing a reputation that doesn’t serve it, it might be time to pump the brakes and figure out what needs to change.
She continues, "Sometimes you’ll see companies (especially startups) announce a name change that comes with updated messaging, visuals, etc. That usually means their vision has changed or expanded, and their previous branding was too narrow/couldn’t encompass everything they planned to do."
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The Brand Doula was born in 2019, and its focus is on putting "the experiences, goals, and needs of women of color founders first," as well as brands with "culture-shifting missions."
According to Lola, culture-shifting is "the act of influencing dominant behavior, beliefs, or experiences in a community or group (ideally, for the better)."
"At The Brand Doula, we work with companies and leaders that set out to challenge the status quo in their industries and communities. They’re here to make an impact that sends ripples across the market," she says.
"We help the problem solvers of the world — the ones who aren't satisfied with 'this is how it's always been' and instead ask 'how could this be better?' Our clients build for impact, reimagining tools, systems, and ways of living to move cultures forward."
The Brand Doula has worked with many brands, including Too Collective, to assist with their collaboration with Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty and Balanced Black Girl for a "refresh," aka rebrand. For businesses looking to rebrand, Lola shares four essential steps.
1. Do an audit of your current brand experience — what’s still relevant and what needs to change? Reflect on why you’re doing the rebrand in the first place and what success would look like after relaunching.
2. Tackle the overall strategy first — before you start redesigning logos and websites, align on a new vision for your brand. How do you want your company to be positioned moving forward? Has your audience changed at all? Will your company have a fresh personality and voice?
3. Bring your audience along the journey — there’s no need to move in secret. Inviting your current audience into the journey can actually help them feel more connected to and invested in your story, enough to stick around as changes are being made.
4. Keep business moving — one of my biggest pet peeves is when companies take down their websites as soon as they have the idea to rebrand, then have a Coming Soon page up for months! You lose a lot of momentum and interest by doing that. If you’re still in business and generating income, continue to operate while you work on your rebrand behind the scenes. You don’t want to cut existing customers off out of the blue, and you also don’t want so much downtime that folks forget your business exists or start looking for other solutions.
While determining whether the rebrand was successful may take a few months, Lola says a clear sign that it is unsuccessful is negative feedback from your target audience. "Customers are typically more vocal about what they don’t like more than what they do like," she says.
But some good signs to look out for are improvements in engagement with your marketing, positive reviews, press and increase in retention, and overall feeling aligned with the new branding.
For more information about Lola and The Brand Doula, visit her website, thebranddoula.com.
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Cortisol Face: Viral Trend Or Scientific Truth? Here’s What You Need To Know
Every day, it seems like a new health concern surfaces on our For You Page. If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, you may have noticed a growing fixation on uncovering how everyday stress affects our bodies and physical appearance, and one term to emerge from this is #cortisolface.
This term, circulating widely online, refers to a “puffy” appearance in the face that’s said to be associated with elevated cortisol levels — often linked to stress. But what’s the science behind it? Are these claims accurate, or is it just another viral beauty myth? According to Kathleen Benson, a Certified Registered Dietitian and TNC expert, the answer is a bit more complex than just having a “puffy” face.
WHAT CAUSES HIGH CORTISOL?
“Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress and is a natural part of the body’s daily cycle,” Benson tells xoNecole. “It plays an important role in regulating energy, blood sugar levels, metabolism, and the body's response to stress.” However, other factors can play a role in excessively high cortisol levels.
“Adrenal dysfunction, chronic stress, long-term sleep deprivation, or insufficient recovery from intense physical activity,” Benson says, can impact our cortisol levels, and in some extreme cases, such as with adrenal dysfunction, “high cortisol may lead to Cushing syndrome, typically caused by prolonged exposure to high cortisol, often due to tumors or corticosteroid use.”
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HIGH CORTISOL LEVELS
Elevated cortisol levels can present in many ways, including “unintentional weight gain (particularly around the abdomen and face), insomnia, muscle weakness, excessive hair growth, and high blood pressure,” Benson explains. Still, she notes that such symptoms can be related to various other conditions, not just elevated cortisol levels.
Understanding the difference between acute and chronic stress is key to recognizing their effects on cortisol production. Acute stress triggers a short-term cortisol spike for immediate fight-or-flight responses, allowing the body to recover quickly. In contrast, chronic stress causes sustained cortisol elevation, impairing recovery and reducing the body's ability to effectively manage stress over time.
With the term “cortisol face” circulating, you may have found yourself wondering if recent puffiness or facial bloating could be related to stress. However, while gaining awareness from social media influencers can be informative, it’s important to recognize that such information can sometimes lead to insecurities and concerns that may not accurately reflect your individual health situation.
“The trend of 'cortisol face' often oversimplifies this complex issue, and many claims online about cortisol are made to sell supplements or programs, often without a solid evidence base,” she explains.
In more serious cases, the puffy, swelling appearance could also be associated with Cushing's syndrome, a condition of severely elevated cortisol due to factors like tumors or prolonged corticosteroid use. In medical terms, it’s referred to as “moon face,” Benson says, however, “Short-term or moderately elevated cortisol levels from stress, poor sleep, illness, or medication may also cause less severe puffiness or changes in facial fat distribution.”
HOW TO REDUCE CORTISOL LEVELS
While thefocus on reducing cortisol levels should be on nutrient-dense foods rather than relying on supplements, Benson says some supplements may support healthy cortisol regulation.
“Magnesium plays a role in nervous system regulation, and deficiency can exacerbate general stress-related symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids may also help reduce inflammation and cortisol levels,” she explains. Green tea and ashwagandha have also been known to support relaxation, reduce stress, and help lower stress-related cortisol levels, though more evidence is needed for definitive conclusions.
Additionally, sleep plays a crucial role in cortisol regulation. “Poor or insufficient sleep disrupts the body’s natural circadian rhythm,” she says. “Often leading to elevated cortisol levels at night, when cortisol should be lower. Sleep deprivation can cause increased cortisol production, contributing to impaired immune function, insulin resistance, facial puffiness, and other cortisol-related symptoms.”
To reduce cortisol levels, consider incorporating natural remedies and practical stress management techniques such as improving your sleep routine, maintaining a nutrient-dense diet, and engaging in regular physical activity.
“Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night, which can naturally lower cortisol levels. In addition to physical activity, practices like meditation and deep breathing exercises can reduce chronic stress,” she said. “A nutrient-dense diet, including foods rich in magnesium and omega-3s, can support the body in regulating cortisol.”
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