Browse Tag

health - Page 5

3 mins read

Black Owned Nutritional Supplements Company Vows To Help Black Communities Live Healthier

Naturade is a manufacturer and marketer of nutritional supplements.  The company was originally founded in 1926, and was acquired by Kareem Cook and Claude Tellis in 2012.

nutritional supplements
Kareem Cook and Claude Tellis

The duo first meet in college at Duke University and later reconnected after attending business school. They made the move to California together and began spreading healthy ideas across the area.

Growing up on the east coast both Kareem and Claude believed that everyone on the west coast, and California in particular were extremely healthy and fit.

They were shocked to see first hand the rate of childhood obesity in the Los Angeles area. They decided to help reduce that number. This is where their journey to spread health and wellness began.

They started a healthy vending company in LA. and were responsible for getting junk food banned in LA schools. They even convinced the whole the state of California to ban junk foods.

nutritional supplements

The pair put the first healthy vending machine in LA and acquired the contract for all of the public schools in Los Angeles.

While banning junk foods in schools across LA is a large accomplishment the men were unsatisfied. They wanted a larger platform to help African Americans prevent common illnesses that plague the community.Both Kareem and Claude’s families and many African Americans across the country suffer from hypertension and diabetes, illnesses that can be prevented or managed largely based on diet.

This passion lead them to develop a business plan to prevent illnesses like diabetes. Their plan involved the purchase of Naturade.

Once Kareem and Claude purchased Naturade, their efforts to educate the African American community on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle began in earnest.

They were introduced to people who shared similar viewpoints, including John Lewis. Kareem and Claude paired up with John Lewis to create VeganSmart, a plant based protein powder.

John Lewis, Vegan Smart

The pair has made strides to spread health and wellness among the African American community, as well as americans across the country.

Kareem Cook and Claude Tellis plan to continue sharing their passion for living healthy plant-based lifestyles with the African American community.

 

Learn more about Naturade on their website.

 

 

10 mins read

RIP Craig Mack. A Hip Hop Icon Lost to Heart Failure Way Too Young

I wasn’t ready for this one. Not that you’re ever quite ready to hear that one of the celebrated MC’s from your youth has passed away.

 

Those of us in our late thirties to mid-forties remember exactly where we were when “Flava In Ya Ear” hit the airwaves July 1994.

It was an uneventful Cali summer for me, going into the eleventh grade. I remember chillin’ with the homies listening to 92.3 The Beat, wishing I could go to Summer Jam, which had the sickest lineup that year. Dope chart toppers were scheduled to perform, from Nas, Wu Tang and Gangstarr to OutKast, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Public Enemy (not to mention all of my R&B faves).

I never made it to the concert, but that was the summer I became mesmerized by that Easy Mo Bee instant classic track that put Bad Boy Records on the map. Here it is, almost twenty five years later and that old robotic, futuristic, George Jetson, crazy joint is still one of the illest cuts DJs will drop in their sets!

We’re all familiar with Craig Mack’s claim to fame solidifying that first hit for Puffy and Bad Boy. In a statement for Rolling Stone, Diddy left a touching tribute to his early protege: “You were the first artist to release music on Bad Boy and gave us our first hit. You always followed your heart and you had an energy that was out of this world. You believed in me and you believed in Bad Boy.

I will never forget what you did for hip-hop. You inspired me, and I will continue to try to keep inspiring others. We will always love you.” With both hallmark artists gone, first Notorious B.I.G. and now Craig Mack, it’s truly the end of an era for the Bad Boy label. I can only imagine the poignant reflections Puff must be processing considering the anniversary of Big’s death on March 9th.

But as a fan, I can’t help but point out the trend it seems we’re facing in losing our classic Hip Hop legends in middle age. I was talking to my 74-year-old pops about Craig Mack’s untimely passing, and his reply was, “Wow, it seems like every time I look up, another rapper has died from health complications.” It does feel like too many of our favorites are tragically going to meet their maker in record numbers.

I think back to a handful of notables from the music industry who have succumbed to medical illness just over the last three years: Prodigy, Phife Dawg, Prince Be of P.M. Dawn, Big Kap, DJ Crazy Toones, Fresh Kid Ice, Koopsta Knicca of Three 6 Mafia, Educated Rapper, Benjy Melendez, Kool DJ AJ, Pam The Funkstress, Charmayne “Maxee” Maxwell of Brownstone, Vanity, Kashif, Joseph “Joey” Robinson Jr. of Sugarhill Records,  and the recently departed attorney-turned-podcaster Reggie “Combat Jack” Ossé. It begins to put things in a somber perspective when it comes to drawing these connections while factoring in age.

Sources of recent deaths:

http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/12/rappers-died-in-2016/

https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.3952/title.remembering-hip-hop-community-members-we-lost-in-2017

https://www.billboard.com/photos/6523827/music-star-deaths-2015

Sometimes diagnoses such as cancer and sickle cell anemia can only be managed for so long when it comes to battling life-threatening illness. There are countless variables and factors that make it futile to draw blanket statements on why certain individuals don’t survive the battle. Other illnesses like diabetes, stroke and heart disease are better managed through positive lifestyle choices, healthy eating and self-care.

Having strong faith, a trusted medical team and supportive loved ones can also prove to be transformative. Craig Mack’s cause of death is being reported as Congestive Heart Failure, which is hard to wrap your mind around considering his age of 46. Some fans are calling into question if this is truly the case, and I can understand why. Granted, I hadn’t heard much about Mack in the last few years, so I have no idea of his post-Bad Boy life.

But to learn that his death was related to heart disease just stirs the pot of concern for those of us in his age range, given that he was less than ten years older than me. Like most people, I think of Congestive Heart Failure as a disease of the elderly, something my grandparents suffered from. But in clicking through a few articles and medical webpages, I came across these startling statistics that put heart disease in a completely different light. According to Emory Healthcare:

  • Nearly 5 million Americans are currently living with congestive heart failure (CHF).
  • Congestive heart failure affects people of ALL ages, from children and young adults to the middle-aged and the elderly.
  • Almost 1.4 million persons with CHF are under 60 years of age.
  • CHF is present in 2 percent of persons age 40 to 59.
  • The incidence of CHF is equally frequent in men and women, and African-Americans are 1.5 times more likely to develop heart failure than Caucasians.

The Center for Disease Control points to unhealthy lifestyle behaviors in increasing one’s risk of heart failure, including: smoking tobacco; eating foods high in fat, cholesterol, and sodium; and not getting enough physical activity. Being obese certainly doesn’t help. But, as long as you receive an early diagnosis and begin treatment as soon as possible, the CDC reports that your quality and length of life can actually improve.

This may mean taking medications you aren’t used to, embracing a restricted diet, and increasing your daily physical activities. But, from what I’ve read, there are roads to recovery from CHF in younger or middle aged adults if you are proactive in the battle for your life. Better yet, let’s commit to living our best lives out here in these 2018 streets so that CHF isn’t even on our radar as young and middle aged Black folks.

I’m really saddened that Craig Mack’s story ended this way. And, more details surrounding his passing, like in most cases, may emerge to gain a better understanding of his last few years. Long time friend and collaborator, Alvin Toney, who produced his debut album, Project: Funk Da World, is reportedly working on a documentary on Mack’s life.

Heart Failure

The subject of the film will explore his decision to leave the world of Hip Hop due to his deep religious convictions, and will likely shine a brighter spotlight on his true legacy.

Toney says that Mack had been ill for some time. In one of their last conversations, he confided in his friend that he was “prepared” and even “ready,” come what may as he approached his final days. As fans, inspired artists and fellow legends of the Hip Hop community mourn his passing, we will always continue to celebrate Craig Mack’s undeniable “Flava” on the culture.

– Contributed by Mai Perkins

Mai Perkins, aka FlyMai, is Cali girl in a Bed Stuy world with global bon vivant flair and the passport stamps to prove it. She currently works in Edtech, and is the author of several blogs including Uberlicious.nyc and MaiOnTheMove.com and is a columnist for the music publication Pop-Mag.com.

With an MFA in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College and an MA in International Affairs from The New School Milano, she reps her beloved alma mater Howard University every chance she gets. As a poet and a creative non-fiction writer, she looks forward to soon publishing her first manuscript, The Walking Nerve-Ending.

Insta: @flymai16

Twitter: @flymai on Twitter

2 mins read

Black Fitness Professionals and Businesses You Should Know

The following Black Fitness Professionals will inspire you and help you do what it takes to achieve your fitness goals. #HealthIsWealth

Black Fitness Professionals

Curvylista Fitness is an East Orange NJ based boutique group fitness studio exclusively for women who want to create a lifestyle of being healthy, happy, and strong.

Micah Baisden is the Owner and Lead Trainer of PowerHouse Sports Academy. They focus on cultivating a motivational and supportive atmosphere.

Ash Fitness is an expert in capitalizing on maximizing fitness results in a small period of time.

8PackUniversity (8PU) is founded by bernard Hilary. 8PU provides health, wellness, and fitness services to the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia or also know as the DMV.

Black Fitness

D.A.M. Good Bodies Elite Personal Training in Philly, offers One on One Personal Training, Boot Camp Training and a Clean Eating Supermarket Tour.

Jeanette Jenkins is the founder of The Hollywood Trainer. She is also one of Hollywood’s most sought after Health & Fitness Experts with over 25 years of experience.

Obi Obadike is an award winning celebrity fitness/nutrition expert and creator of Perfect Anatomy Fitness Solutions Online Personal Training.

Nicole Monroe is a Richardson, TX based certified personal trainer that specializes in strength & conditioning, H.I.I.T, and core toning.

Brittne Babe is one of the many certified personal trainers and health and wellness coach that offers one-on-one training programs and personalized meal plans.

Magda Civil is a personal trainer who provides online fitness challenges and online boot camp group training with over 200 participants.

Cassandra Nuamah is a fitness fanatic and certified Kukuwa Dance Workout Instructor. The Kukuwa workout that has you immediately moving your arms, waist, legs, and hips to a blend of Central, East, South, West, and North African rhythms.

 

-Tony O. Lawson

If you would like to add a business to this list (or another) SUBMIT HERE.


Subscribe and Follow SHOPPE BLACK on Facebook, Instagram &Twitter


 Get your SHOPPE BLACK Apparel!

11 mins read

Chronic Pain & The Opioid Epidemic: A View in Black & White

There was a time when I’d wake up every morning in chronic pain. The pain I endured was vaguely diagnosed after going to the doctor several times in one year to address the aches in my lower back and pelvis. So far, the treatment has been a combination of ibuprofen and, at one point, six weeks of physical therapy.

However, like many Americans who live with ongoing aches in their own bodies, the low to moderate pain at times persists. Despite this, because I’m a young, healthy Black woman, I continue throughout my days uncertain of when my body will actually be pain-free.

In 2012, the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) concluded that 11.2% of American adults (25.3 million people) have experienced some form of pain every day over the course of three months. So, while chronic pain is new to me, it is not a new phenomenon among Americans.

I bring this up to paint the story of how opioid addiction became a national epidemic, yet is not the burden of Black Americans, at large. Though a growing number of hip hop artists like Lil Wayne, The Weeknd, and Meek Mill are a case study for the burgeoning prescription drug crisis in urban communities with the emergence of “Modern Drug Rap,” the mainstream perception is that the opioid crisis is that of white America.

Fact is, the diagnosis of “chronic pain” officially became treatable during the mid-90s when doctors, who were once wary of prescribing opioid medication, were lured by Big Pharma into making painkillers widely available.

A fascinating Last Week Tonight with John Oliver segment points out how the pharmaceutical industry began amplifying the message that opioids were appropriate to use not only for acute pain but for all manner of conditions that cause common body aches.

In 1996, Purdue released the blockbuster drug, OxyContin through an aggressive marketing strategy that boasted relatable testimonials of pain patients whose lives were miraculously turned around by the opioid.

At the time, Purdue claimed that less than 1% of patients who took opioid medication became addicted, and went as far as to have doctors on payroll called Pain-Management Specialists insist that “pseudoaddiction” is “relief-seeking behavior mistaken as drug addiction.”

This justified their appealing message of a quick, easy cure for pain, available to those with the medical insurance plans or social influence to acquire the prescriptions. This was mainly the dwindling middle class, and affluent whites. By 2000, doctors were writing nearly 6 million oxycodone scripts per year and, shortly thereafter, the headlines began to reflect the true risk of the highly addictive medication.

By 2007, Purdue admitted responsibility and paid $634 million in fines for lying to the public with misleading marketing about the safety of OxyContin. Other prescription opioid companies also paid multimillion-dollar fines after being sued for over-marketing to the public and insurance companies to pay for drugs like Fentanyl, the drug 100-times more powerful than morphine that ultimately claimed the life of rock star Prince.

While the pharmaceutical companies bear a great deal of responsibility for the epidemic, where more than 250 million opioid prescriptions are written every year, the fact that the epidemic is overwhelmingly affecting white Americans is telling.

Meanwhile, the response to this crisis by the Federal government, declaring the Opioid Epidemic a Public Health issue as opposed to a Criminal Justice one, is rooted in the country’s institutional and structural racism.

If I were a white woman in my late 30s living in Suburbia, USA with excellent health coverage, the theory goes, the mere mention of the chronic pain I currently suffer would afford me a refillable opioid prescription. However, being a 30-something Black woman in Brooklyn, grateful for the therapy provided by my Obamacare, there was never any mention of an opioid painkiller remedy with my zero-refill 90 count ibuprofen.

Not that I desired one. That’s not that point. The point is that doctors have historically undertreated African Americans for pain in comparison to whites by not prescribing painkillers for reasons ranging from the false belief that Blacks have a higher tolerance for pain to the belief that they may sell the medication for profit.

An example given by journalist Soledad O’brien is that a Black patient who’s had teeth extracted may not get the same 90-day supply of Vicodin that a white person with better health coverage might receive.

This is one theory that explains why many Blacks have not been as adversely affected by the prescription opioid epidemic. We simply do not get the same access to pain pills as whites. With this context, it’s better understood why the opioid and heroin crisis is a white American epidemic. Many looking to rehab centers like The Recovery Village for help with recovering from such an addiction.

For the substance abusers who initially had access to prescription opioids, heroin became a much cheaper and more easily accessible option once the scripts ran out.

75% of heroin abusers started with pharmaceutical pain opioids such as Oxycontin, Vicodin, or Percocet, which are taken both by prescription and recreationally. Yet, in the last five years when whites from suburban, wealthy, rural, and lower class areas became addicted to heroin, America declared the Opioid Epidemic a Public Health Crisis.

Enter, Michael Botticelli, the Obama administration’s Drug Czar and Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) from March 2014 until the end of the 44th presidency. Without saying he single-handedly spearheaded the shift from treating drug epidemics as a criminal justice issue to a public health one, it is accurate that in becoming head of ONDCP, Botticelli had long been a critic of the nation’s previous failed approach to dealing with drug issues stating that, “We can’t arrest and incarcerate addiction out of people.”

There is no more talk of violent “super-predators” with innate criminal pathologies, as disenfranchised “crack addicts” and their “crack babies” were universally characterized in the ‘80s and ‘90s while being siphoned onto the conveyor belt of mass incarceration. Now, the national push today is for empathy, compassion, tolerance, and accessible treatment for the nation’s addicted. 

News media headlines tout “The New Face of Addiction” within families “who did everything right.” Could this shift in perception be because overdoses have reached the doorsteps of government-elected officials?

New York State Assemblywoman Diana C. Richardson has been trending on social media for her 2016 response to the opioid epidemic in comparison to the crack crisis. In her remarks, she highlights the racial disparity and hypocrisy in the way the two drug crises have been handled.

Crack was an indisputable criminal justice agenda, in no way considered a national public health priority. It was met by the New York Rockefeller Drug Laws during the relentless War on Drugs.

diana c. richardson

Prior to crack, when heroin plagued the Black community post-Vietnam, it was a criminal justice issue. Richardson is spirited and resolute in exclaiming that because the opioid crisis affects a “different demographic of race and class,” it has become a public health issue diverting the addicted from prison into treatment facilities.

She ends her speech by declaring what’s missing from the drug epidemic discussion: the Restorative Justice element toward the individuals who were jailed or now have permanent records.

For all the families who were ripped apart due to the criminal justice handling of the crack epidemic, as opposed to establishing a public health-based treatment infrastructure, in what way are they made whole by their government?

Black Americans who faced addictions that equate the same issues of whites addicted to opioids and heroin have absolutely nothing to show for the lack of humanity, compassion, empathy and foresight that the government has granted this current whitewashed drug epidemic. And that is quite the national tragedy.

– Contributed by Mai Perkins

Mai Perkins, aka FlyMai, is Cali girl in a Bed Stuy world with global bon vivant flair and the passport stamps to prove it. She currently works in Edtech, and is the author of several blogs including Uberlicious.nyc and MaiOnTheMove.com and is a columnist for the music publication Pop-Mag.com.

With an MFA in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College and an MA in International Affairs from The New School Milano, she reps her beloved alma mater Howard University every chance she gets. As a poet and a creative non-fiction writer, she looks forward to soon publishing her first manuscript, The Walking Nerve-Ending.

Insta: @flymai16

Twitter: @flymai on Twitter

7 mins read

Couples Inc. : Dominique And Carl Own a Dental Practice in Alabama

Dr. Carl M. Shamburger, Jr, DMD and Dr. Dominique Askew Shamburger, DDS are the owners of Montgomery Dental Arts, a dental practice located in Montgomery, Alabama.

Between the rave reviews they’ve received on Facebook and the fact that Dr. Dominique is a fellow HU grad, it wasn’t hard for us to decide that you should hear what they have to say about “entrepreneuring” while married.

SB: How did you both meet?

Dr. Dominique: We met at the mall. It is interesting because people often assume that our meeting was somehow connected to dentistry, but it was just coincidence that we were both dentists. We attended two different dental schools.

I was shopping in my hometown with one of my friends and Carl was shopping with his sister. His sister is friends with my friend so we all ended up together. Dr. Carl and I started talking, and quickly discovered a common interest. He was in his last year of dental school and I had just graduated.

SB: What influenced your decision to pursue a career in dentistry?

Dr. Carl: While in high school, I helped manage care for my grandmother before she departed and was instilled with a desire to help and serve others. After being exposed to different medical professions, I decided that dentistry was my passion and thus began my journey to becoming a dentist.

dental

Dr. Dominique: Dentistry has always been personal to me. As a child, I suffered from very misaligned teeth. As a result I was often teased and became self-conscious about my smile. As a defense mechanism I just tried my best not to smile. Which internally limited the amount of happiness I felt.

After I had orthodontic treatment I realized that dentistry doesn’t just change smiles it changes lives. I became a much more outgoing person and for the first time I realized that I deserved to smile. At that moment I knew I wanted to help others to feel the same joy of loving their smiles.

SB: What is the most important thing to remember when you are married to your business partner?

Dr. Dominique: The most important factor is my union to my husband. Our relationship is always the priority. It is of paramount importance for me to protect our union at all costs. We have to remember that we are partners in life first. That helps to guide our interactions as partners in business.

Dr. Carl: You have to sort of live as two people and be able to switch them on and off based on the scenario. During work hours and meetings, you have to be the best business partner you can be and think with the mind set of clinician and business owner. Outside of work, you must switch to fully dedicating yourself to being a husband and father.

SB: In what ways do you have similar entrepreneurial traits and in what ways are you different as entrepreneurs?

Dr. Dominique: We are both visionaries. We have the ability to envision a dream and work diligently to accomplish it. We both place patient care at the center of our focus. We work well at utilizing the strengths of each other to complete tasks. We are constantly keeping each other sharp and on our toes in regards to patient care.

We are different as entrepreneurs in our skills. One of us may be stronger in finances where the other is stronger in public relations. We constantly have to evaluate our strengths and make sure we are both operating in a manner that utilizes those strengths to their fullest potential.

SB: What are your 5 year goals for the practice?

Dr. Carl: We hope to become a staple in the community. We want our name to be synonymous with quality and compassionate care. We want to continue to help people achieve optimal dental health first and continue to cultivate a staff that is committed to provide our vision. We believe the practice will grow to new heights if we continue to put the patients first in our goals.

SB: What advice do you have for recent graduates that are interested in starting their own practice?

Dr. Dominique: Try to find a mentor. There are so many steps that are involved in building a practice from the ground up and it is very helpful to have someone who has done it to coach you along the way. Looking back, there are many things that we could have done differently to make things go smoother. I would also say make sure you do your research. A good well thought out business plan will help you along the way.

Dr. Carl: It would be advantageous to do as much research as possible in practice management courses and books. Stay active in communicating and networking with dentists who are already practice owners.

It will also benefit to get some experience working in private practice to learn the ins and outs of operating a private practice. Invest in yourself by honing your dental skills with continuing education and completing cases. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the journey.

Visit Montgomery Dental Arts online or at 10650 Chantilly Parkway, Montgomery, Alabama 36117.

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson aka @thebusyafrican

8 mins read

6 Ways To Beat The Holiday Blues

Tis the season to be jolly! Or Nah? While many enjoy the glitz and glamour of the holiday season, the holiday season can be a painful reminder of lifes pangs: poor social relationships, poor financial health, the loss of loved ones and the inevitability of another year.

Some, have to wrestle with if what they are experiencing is brought on by the holidays or something more serious.

African Americans, who are more likely to have feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness than are adult whites, it is important to take a moment to pause to consider what lies beyond the lights and the parties.

holidayWhile the thought of reading yet another list of self-care tips may seem discouraging, consider the alternative. Do you trudge through another holiday season with empty smiles or reclaim this season for your personal growth and betterment? I vote reclamation!

Here are a few helpful action steps you can take to not only surviving but thriving this holiday season:

Get Moving

The mind and body are amazing, they have all these conversations about what works and what doesnt work without us always being conscious.

Physical activity is one of the best ways to elevate your mood and reduce anxiety. For example, you may want to look into considering tennis lessons. Physical activity releases endorphins elevating your mood, while also helping to calm the brains fight or flight response system. Get a jump on all those new year new body goals by getting active now.

holiday

If possible, consider a brisk 45 minute walk each day. Better yet, dance that pain away, sweat it out with a YouTube workout or grab a friend and take a class.

Play, while relegated to the 12 and under population, is actually for everybody. Play has the potential to bring about immense pleasure while also strengthening poise and understanding.

No matter your physical capabilities, we can all engage in play of some sort.

holiday

Give A Little Get a Little

While it may seem counterintuitive to consider giving to someone else when you are feeling low, it may be just what you need.

holiday

Seeding into others can produce feelings of satisfaction and purpose. While volunteering at your local food bank or shelter is a great way to give back, there are likely people in your life and immediate vicinity who would benefit from some extra support.

Giving with your money is great, but giving of your time can produce the long-term fulfillment we are all seeking. Consider checking in on someone, offering a warm meal or helping someone around the house.

holiday

This is a great time to cultivate or re-cultivate your relationships with the elders in your life who are often forgotten about.

Be Grateful

Everything we dont have, arent doing and should have done can be heavy load to bare. But what about your flowers? What about the things in your life that are going well, the relationships that have lasted, and the skills you do possess?

Being intentional about gratitude offer us a moment to recognize the small but mighty beauty that surrounds us daily. Consider starting a gratitude journal. At the end of each day, reflect on something you are grateful for.

Even if it’s just the basic recognition that there is breath in your body and you are alive, lean into that which you are grateful for.

Double Down On You

Date yourself, treat yourself and love on you in only the ways you can. Instead of externalizing your feelings, go inward. Shower yourself with praise until you actually start to believe it.

Escort yourself to that concert, holiday gathering or vacation getaway. Buy your own flowers and go all out on a meal for one. Even if you have someone to enjoy these things with, there is nothing like remembering your first relationship, to self.

While it may be easier to highlight all the ways you have failed yourself, it takes more work to love on you. The results of this type of hard work has the potential to change your life well beyond the holidays.

Get Creative

Creativity is a divine genius we sometimes forget to tap into, especially if you dont consider yourself an artist. The truth is, we are all creative beings, and there are millions of ways to engage our creative sides without trying to be the next Basquiat. There is coloring, painting, collaging, cooking, writing, and drawing.

But there is also repurposing, organizing for space optimization, decorating, and indulging the possibility of ideas that you ruled out. Like any muscle, the creative muscle will atrophy if we dont exercise it and grows with regular attention.

Strengthening your creative muscle can open you up to seeing things in a new way, recognizing possibility where there was once a wall. Like with exercise, creating something brings about feelings of fulfillment which often last longer than feelings of happiness.

Go Inward With Therapy

If your holiday blues has extended into your spring and summer it may be time to reexamine the root of your blues. If depression symptoms like sadness; lethargy; loss of appetite; anxiety; lack of interest in pleasurable activities; and mood swings persist for multiple days for more than two weeks, there may be case for a deeper dive.

holiday

It should be noted, clinical depression can make many of the above considerations almost impossible. If this is your reality, consider therapy.

Therapy offers clients a safe space to make that deep dive, find meaning, and learn techniques for long term self care. Maybe this year instead of going it alone, you seek out a qualified therapist to help you put down your burden.

Whatever you choose to do, choose you by being intentional.

None of the advice provided in this article is a substitute for a relationship with a trained clinician. If you or someone you know me be experiencing depression, please seek out help.

Shesheena A. Bray is Boston native who has taken up roots in the City of Brotherly Love. She earned her M.S.Ed in mental health counseling from The University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education in 2016. In 2017, Shesheena started Going Inward Wellness, LLC where she offers individual counseling, psychotherapy and wellness support.

For those in the Philadelphia area, consider Going Inward Wellness as your first stop in therapy.

6 mins read

Racism Tied to Worse Asthma Symptoms for Black youth

African-American children and young adults with a hard-to-treat type of asthma may have a more difficult time keeping symptoms in check when they have experienced racial discrimination, a recent study suggests.

Photo Credit: NPR

Researchers asked 576 black youth in the U.S. with asthma whether they had been hassled, made to feel inferior or prevented from doing something because of their race, ethnicity, color or language in situations at school, in medical settings or at restaurants and stores. Roughly half of them reported experiencing some form of discrimination at some point in their lives.

When they had not experienced these forms of discrimination, the children and young adults were almost twice as likely to have well-controlled asthma than when they had, researchers report in the journal PLoS One.

“Discrimination is a form of stress, and thus, its effect on asthma may be all or mostly due to stress,” said study co-author Dr. Luisa Borrell, a public health and health policy researcher at the City University of New York.

“Racial or ethnic discrimination experiences could affect our response to medications by changing our airway tissues and mucous production,” Borrell said by email.

The link between symptom control and discrimination was even more pronounced for a subset of participants who had high levels of an immune-system signaling molecule known as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in their blood. It is a protein that’s involved in inflammation and elevated in asthma patients who don’t respond well to standard medications.

Still, even among the participants with high TNF-alpha levels, the youth who didn’t experience discrimination were almost three times more likely to have well-controlled asthma symptoms than their peers who did experience racism.

To assess symptom control, researchers tested how participants responded to albuterol, an inhaled bronchodilator that is used as a rescue therapy to open inflamed airways when people have an asthma attack. People who have frequent attacks may also be prescribed corticosteroids to control their symptoms.

“In asthma that is well controlled, you would expect a low response to albuterol since the patient is not having a lot of symptoms and their airways are not inflamed,” said co-senior study author Dr. Neeta Thakur of the University of California, San Francisco.

“But in people who are not prescribed control medications, or are under-dosed, you might see a higher response,” Thakur said in a statement.

When researchers did lung function tests before and after giving participants albuterol, they found people who experienced discrimination had a bigger response to albuterol than those who didn’t.

The study wasn’t a controlled experiment designed to prove that discrimination directly worsens asthma symptoms.

Another limitation is the possibility that factors such as segregated neighborhoods, exposure to indoor or outdoor air pollution, violence in the community or other social and economic disadvantages might at least partially explain the connection between discrimination and asthma symptoms found in the study, the authors note.

“Race, ethnicity and social class are important proxies for unmeasured factors that influence health outcomes,” said Dr. Avni Joshi of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota.

Selected characteristics of participants with asthma according to self-reported racial/ethnic discrimination in SAGE II (2006–2014).

“A child who is in a poor housing situation, is more likely to come from a less educated family, which in turn are likely to be low income with incomplete or poor health coverage and access to care,” Joshi, who wasn’t involved in the study, said by email. “It is in these families that the stress levels are likely high due to insecurities for food, money and perceived or actual discrimination in all spheres of life.”

Controlling stress, however, might help keep asthma symptoms in check, said Dr. Elizabeth Matsui of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore.

“The details of how stress leads to inflammation are not clear, but links between stress and inflammation have been shown repeatedly, and asthma is a disease characterized by inflammation in the lungs,” Matsui, who wasn’t involved in the study, said by email. “We know that stress is broadly a risk factor for worse asthma, so stress management to reduce stress is appropriate.”

 

 

SOURCE:(Reuters Health) and  bit.ly/2sZAz8n PLoS One, online June 13, 2017.

23 mins read

Meet the Black Bodybuilding Crew Crushing #BodyGoals

One of my favorite classes in college was weight training. All we did was workout and crack jokes. This class taught me how much hard work and dedication actual bodybuilding requires.

Now, whenever I need workout advice or tips, I hit up my man, Mo. He stays in the gym and knows his stuff when it comes to bodybuilding, nutrition etc.

I asked him and his workout crew some questions about their lifestyle. This is what they had to say.

Mo Williams (NPC National Qualified Physique)

SB: What inspired you to start bodybuilding?

Mo: I have always been an athlete and played sports all through out my youth. I also didn’t have the greatest home environment as a kid. So I not only trained for the sports I was playing, I trained to finally be able to stand up and protect myself. What I didn’t know is that I would fall in love with seeing my body transform. I used to read articles on websites like Skinny2Fit to find recipes and tips to help me get the most out of my workout.

I continued working out just for fun and to build my stature. Last year a couple of friends suggested that I step on stage and compete, so I spent about five months preparing for my first show and won overall.

SB: What’s your profession outside of bodybuilding?

M0: I work for the federal government. I am a Country Development Officer at the U.S. Agency for International Development.

SB: Do you have a nutrition plan? What do you eat and how often?

Mo: I an currently on a 1900-2000k cal diet as I get ready for my show in June. I am on a high protein and vegetable diet with limited carbs.

Bodybuilding

SB: How many days do you train? Describe your workout plan.

Mo: I train six days a week twice a day. I do cardio in the morning, with some abdominal work and lift weights in the evening

SB: What you do to relax when you are not working out?

Mo: I love watching movies, spending time with my family and I am also taking acting classes

SB: How does contest prep and bodybuilding affect your personal life?

Mo: Bodybuilding is a very selfish sport. In order to get stage ready you end up standing on the shoulders of a lot of people, from the coach that trains you, to the nutritionist that does your meal plans. Life during prep is very isolating and a lot of times your friends and family do not understand why you can’t go out to eat, drink or party with them.

SB: What are your keys to success in bodybuilding?

Mo: Your success depends on two things. How determined you are and your work ethic. My mentality in this game is to win and I always say that if you want to beat me, “you will have to die on the stairmaster”. Also, do not let anyone out work you. More than anything else in the sport of bodybuilding, you have to be distraction free and keep all negativity afar.

SB: What advice do you have for someone who wants to begin their bodybuilding journey tomorrow?

Mo: Bodybuilding is not for everyone, think long and hard before getting into this sport. Make sure you have a good support system and also know your body.

Cassandra Murphy (NPC Bikini Competitor)

SB: What motivated you to start bodybuilding?

Cassandra: Growing up I have always been active, from doing ballet, gymnastics, and running a half marathon. However bodybuilding did not come along until about a year ago. I worked with a young lady who was preparing for a bodybuilding show and I became curious about the process. I noticed she ate almost every two to three hours, and went to the gym daily.

I had questions, lots of questions. That’s when I decided to have a talk with my coworker to find out how this whole bodybuilding thing works. I remember thinking to myself “I want to do a show, but I don’t want to look like a man with too many muscles”. So I decided to do bikini and it was history from there. I set a goal, found a show date, and my life would never be the same.

SB: What’s your profession outside of bodybuilding?

Cassandra: I am a surgical assistant and a pharmacy student.

SB: Do you have a nutrition plan? What do you eat and how often?

Cassandra: When I am on prep I follow a strict nutrition plan that enables me to build muscle and retain it for my show. During my off season I still incorporate a clean diet however, I indulge in pizza and sweets every so often. I typically eat around six or seven meals a day when I am on prep.

I am pescartarian so fish is my main source of protein aside from protein shakes. The meals I eat during prep are pretty basic. The usual suspects are 4-6oz of fish, brown rice, sweet potato, green vegetables, eggs(lots of eggs), and peanut butter. During off season I cut my meals down to 4-5 meals a day and allow myself to have a cheat meal twice a week.

SB: How many days do you train? Describe your workout plan.

Cassandra: I actually enjoy working out so I am in the gym six days a week sometimes seven if I am getting ready for a show. I have found that it’s best to split up your workouts by body parts. For example when I train on legs (which by the way I train three days a week) one day I would focus on glutes and hamstrings, while another day I would focus on quads, inner thighs, and hamstrings.

I always have a day dedicated to working on my glutes, as that is my problem area. When I work on my upper body I will dedicate a day for just biceps and triceps, and another for back and shoulders. I also do core every night before bed and 30 minutes of cardio 3-5 days a week depending if I am on prep or not..

SB: What you do to relax when you are not working out?

Cassandra: When I am not working out I listen to music and dance. I find music to be very calming. I also go for walks to enjoy some fresh air.

SB: How does contest prep and bodybuilding affect your personal life?

Cassandra: Contest prep takes a lot of time and dedication. I remember when I did my first contest prep I hardly ever made time for my personal life as I was always in the gym or at work or school. It can be tough at times because all you think about is how well you want to do at your show, so the gym becomes your second home and can easily consume you. I hardly had time for my friends, but I made new friends in the gym (other competitors) as they understood the sacrifice I was making to be the best.

SB: What are your keys to success in bodybuilding?

Cassandra: To be successful in bodybuilding the first thing is to have a strong mindset, and a can do attitude. Without the will to tackle any obstacle it could become difficult to reach your full potential. I think it is important to be consistent, positive and surround yourself with likeminded individuals. You have to be willing to go the extra mile which means really pushing yourself in the gym and sticking to your meal plan.

Cassandra (center)

SB: What advice do you have for someone who wants to begin their bodybuilding journey tomorrow?

Cassandra: My advice would be to trust the process and just go for it. For me to even say that is kind of crazy because that is all my coach used to tell me during my first prep ,and all I did was stress out. Starting off can be frustrating at times and trust me I was frustrated in the beginning, but I had support from my coach and other team members which helped tremendously.

The next piece of advice would be to find a show date (pick a date that gives you enough time for contest prep, and stick to it) get a coach, and leave the rest up to all the hard work you put in at the gym and your diet. Bodybuilding is as fun and exciting if you want it to be! Once you put your mind to it your body will make the connection and the results will speak for themselves.

Koko Korang (NPC National Qualified Figure Competitor)

SB: What motivated you to start bodybuilding?

Koko: I’ve always been athletic growing up from dance since I was eight years old, to playing AAU Basketball, running track in high school, college and on the US Army competitive track team. Bodybuilding was another competitive outlet for me especially after my last knee surgery. I just needed to find an outlet that would keep me healthy and fit mentally as well as physically.

SB: What’s your profession outside of bodybuilding?

Koko: I am a contracted Staff Accountant for private sectors and a full time personal trainer and nutrition lifestyle coach.

SB: Do you have a nutrition plan? What do you eat and how often?

Koko: Currently I am in competition season, so I do have a strict nutrition plan. Every bodybuilder will tell you that, once competition season comes around, bodybuilding meals are essential to improving performance. I eat 6-8 times a day depending on my workday. My meals consist of lean protein (fish, chicken, turkey) a lot of dark leafy greens and complex carbs (sweet potato, brown rice, oatmeal) and my water intake is at least a gallon a day.

SB: How many days do you train? Describe your workout plan.

Koko: I train twice a day, 6 days a week. I normally start out with either Fasted Cardio or HIIT Training in the morning usually lasting about 30-45 minutes. Steady state cardiovascular exercise, i.e Stepmill, Cycling Bike, or Treadmill on an incline or HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) with plyometric exercises, which is jump training with repetition exercises done in a short interval time period.

In the evening i do strength training mainly utilizing compound sets(working the same muscle group with different exercises back to back in circuits) or supersets (working 2 different muscle groups back to back in circuits), it varies per day.

SB: What you do to relax when you are not working out?

Koko: I love being a homebody for the day, my idea of a relaxed day is a Sunday after church in my pajamas watching movies eating popcorn. I know sounds boring. However if i’m traveling, a nice relaxed sound day at the beach with a nice book or writing in my journal is ideal as well. It’s the simple things.

SB: How does contest prep and bodybuilding affect your personal life?

Koko: This lifestyle has definitely affected my personal life but for the good I believe. Focusing on my health and making the necessary changes in my lifestyle has made me embrace my growth in self. Discipline to be better not just physically but mentally has really made me re-evaluate past relationships and bad auras; I made the choice to finally get rid of negative vibes in my life.

I’ve lost some friendships and gained new ones for the better in my opinion. There’s a stigma that all competitors in this lifestyle date or communicate with only other competitors; I don’t believe this is all the way true. Prep season can only be isolating if you surround yourself with folks who don’t support or not willing to understand your reasoning for this lifestyle.

Koko (bottom)

SB: What are your keys to success in bodybuilding?

Koko: Keys to success in bodybuilding in my opinion is drive and dedication to yourself and to the sport, the willingness to get up every morning to workout or sacrifice that extra hour in your long workday to workout no matter what. Trust in the process, changes come in variations so patience is a virtue; even the smallest change counts.

Support from your loved ones, sometimes that extra push is necessary, i’ve realized you can’t do everything on your own. Commitment to the journey, if you cheat skipping meals, skipping workouts you’re only cheating yourself. Last but not least confidence in self, if you don’t believe in yourself no one will so it starts within.

SB: What advice do you have for someone who wants to begin their bodybuilding journey tomorrow?

Koko: Do this for you and no one else!!! Remember your reasoning for starting your journey and let that be your constant drive. Opinions will be made, criticisms will always be given but don’t let that sway you to give up. Be true to self and be your own motivation. If you are struggling to start out then look into ways to feed up your bodybuilding process. Things like the right diet and sarms is a great base to start at. There are lots of main benefits of using sarms.

Jessica Marie Poole (NPC National Qualified Figure Competitor)

SB: What motivated you to start bodybuilding?

Jessica: After being a former track and field athlete, I was looking for another challenge and another way to stay in shape. I saw pictures and videos of athletes like IFBB Figure Pro Alicia Harris and Candice Carter and thought it was something I could achieve.

SB: What’s your profession outside of bodybuilding?

Jessica: Budget Analyst for the Government

SB: Do you have a nutrition plan? What do you eat and how often?

Jessica: Yes, I eat about 5-7 meals a day depending on my goals

SB: How many days do you train? Describe your workout plan.

Jessica: I train 5-6 days a week, twice a day. I incorporate split training and work each muscle group at least twice a week.

SB: What you do to relax when you are not working out?

Jessica: I like to read, drink wine, hang out with my girlfriends and spend time with family.

SB: How does contest prep and bodybuilding affect your personal life?

Jessica: Prepping for a show takes a lot of dedication, focus, and sacrifice. My goal is win, so I take my time and pride in building a package that I am proud of.

SB: What are your keys to success in bodybuilding?

Jessica: Be patient with yourself, don’t half-step, eliminate any distractions, and always remember your why.

SB: What advice do you have for someone who wants to begin their bodybuilding journey tomorrow?

Jessica: Find a good/knowledgeable coach. Don’t be in a rush to do a show but actually do one when you’re ready. Learn your body. Be the best you can be. Enjoy the journey.

Marques Speights (NPC National Qualified Bodybuilding Competitor)


SB: What motivated you to start bodybuilding?

Marques: I have always been impressed by the physiques I saw while growing up amd I wanted to create my version of that.

SB: What’s your profession outside of bodybuilding?

Marques: I am a Master Personal Trainer and also run my own personal training business under the moniker of SP8FITNESS in Maryland

SB: Do you have a nutrition plan? What do you eat and how often?

Marques: I’m currently in off-season and in the bulking so I eat 7-8 times a day. But, during the season and in prep I eat 5-6 times a day.

SB: How many days do you train? Describe your workout plan.

Marques: I train 3 days a week in the offseason and workout for about 2 hours

SB: What you do to relax when you are not working out?

Marques:I love going to the movies, bowling, and spending time with my daughter and family.

Marques (center)

SB: How does contest prep and bodybuilding affect your personal life?

Marques: It takes a lot of time away from your family and friends but it’s the lofe I have chosen to lean and the life for me

SB: What are your keys to success in bodybuilding?

Marques: Believing in yourself and being surrounded around only positive people period!

SB: What advice do you have for someone who wants to begin their bodybuilding journey tomorrow?

Marques: Just give it your all and give it 100% and have fun with it and learn as much as possible throughout your journey!

Photo Credit: Fareed Stephens

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

13 mins read

Magnolia Yoga Studio: The First Black Owned Yogo Studio in New Orleans

I took my first yoga class a couple years ago. I was initially reluctant because I didn’t consider yoga to be a real workout. I was sadly mistaken.

That class kicked my ass and forced me to put some “respek” on yoga’s name. I now understand how important the art form of yoga is, and was eager to speak with Ajax Jaxon, owner of Magnolia Yoga Studio.

This is what she had to say:

SB: How did you become interested in yoga?

AJ: In 2003, I met a very sweet older man from Iceland named Frosty. He invited me to my first yoga class and I agreed.

I was completely clueless that this decision would catapult me to my greatest passion and life’s work! I loved my first yoga class and wanted more once it was over.

I started practicing and made it a big part of my everyday life. It took another four years, turning 30 and getting laid off for me to take another leap of faith and become an internationally certified yoga teacher.

SB: How can yoga be used for different types of healing?  

AJ: Yoga is a healing art form, a discipline and an ancient technology still very relevant for our modern day illnesses. The Yoga approach is comprehensive, working with the multiple facets of who we are as people. All dimensions are touched on as you get deeper and deeper into the practice. However, the most fundamental level of healing that yoga addresses is the physical body.

We then move to the mind and, once the mind-body connection is in sync, one starts to explore the emotional body and energetic body. This tends to be the order but it’s not set in stone, as yoga reaches each person in different ways. I always say a yoga practice is one of the most intimate things a person can experience.

Yet, people often don’t initially know why they like yoga or return for classes. It can be elusive and hard to put into words. It’s ancestral, natural and mythical, as yoga is said to be a gift from Mother Nature to humanity. It’s ours to use and benefit from.

However, let’s briefly break down the physical healing that occurs with yoga, especially hot yoga. Two systems are being intentionally used to bring forth health, energy, vitality, healing and well-being. First, you address the respiratory system with the huge amounts of deep breathing done from the very beginning of class to the very end. The respiratory system is assisted by the circulatory system, which increases due to all the movement and the heat, which speeds up the blood flow 2-3 times faster than normal.

The heat also thins the blood, allowing blood to flow into places inside the body that don’t receive sufficient blood flow throughout the day due to a sedentary lifestyle. This blood become so rich with oxygen from all the deep breathing, and the postures then deliver all this rich oxygenated blood throughout the entire body to every organ, gland, muscle, joint and bone. It’s a simple yet significant science. Most illnesses and diseases, if you trace them back far enough, start due to poor circulation.

So, we increase the blood flow and oxygen levels by practicing in the heat the series of 26 posture and 2 breathing exercises at Magnolia Yoga. This combo takes each student through every system of the body, nourishing the body with the basics it needs to naturally heal.

The postures also create space in the body so that the spine can naturally shift back into its proper alignment. The same shift is happening with the internal organs and glands. In addition practicing yoga reduces stress when you reduce stress one supports the immune system protecting the body from illness & disease.

With a regular and consistent practice, I have personally experienced these benefits and as a full time teacher I have been able to help countless others reduce, reverse and completely eliminate a wide range of issues including asthma, stress, insomnia, depression, anxiety, diabetes, blood pressure, thyroid issues, reduced range of motion, a wide range of serious spinal injuries and pain, joint pain, migraines, bronchitis, heart conditions, tendonitis, arthritis, weight management and low self-esteem. I have also seen Yoga Increase self-acceptance, self-confidence and self-love within my students.

SB: Do you feel more Black people should take an interest in yoga. And why? 

 AJ: I would absolutely love to inspire, encourage and ultimately support Black folks and their yoga journey.  I became certified to teach everyone with a personal aspiration to reach out to people of color and men.

These two demographics would benefit tremendously from a regular yoga practice. African-Americans, in particular, suffer from the highest numbers of physical and mental health conditions, as well as societal concerns.

Photo credit: Peter Koloff

Yoga can help us tremendously take our health and power back. In a yoga class, one gets this golden opportunity to reflect, reorganize and remember what is really important, who we really are and what we really aspire for ourselves as a collective and as individuals.

Life can be busy and hectic and it’s so easy to get bogged down and clogged up with negative thoughts and mental debris. Within a yoga class one gets a chance to clear out so new, creative and positive thoughts have a chance to percolate.

yoga

Yoga is usually last on everyone’s list. Once they tried everything else, then they try yoga. As a race, I profoundly feel we are at the end our list. We have tried so many things and have seen some progress, but it’s time to go deeper.

It’s imperative to find time to go within. I think yoga and meditation is one of the most revolutionary acts one can do, because, for up to 1 or 2 hours a day, you tell the world you are unavailable.

Whether it is your kids, boss, students or clients, you model for them that you come first and in order for you to serve them or anyone, you first have to serve yourself.

So, yes, we need yoga for physical and mental health,  but also to help us to continue to self-realize and to help follow through with our next steps as minorities in this country where our positions, rights and health are not guaranteed.

Yoga
Photo Credit: Kee’s Little Feet Photography

SB: What challenges did you encounter while trying to get the business set up?  

AJ: Aside from raising capital and staying on budget for a brand new build out, I had to dig deep in my private moments to resurrect enough belief in myself.

I had to pray and meditate on whether or not I would have the passion, stamina, expertise and grace to run a yoga studio committed to helping people through the challenges we go through in life.

I quickly noticed how the Universe was making many things easy for me, which gave me a lot of confidence that my destiny was manifesting and not even I could stop it.

In addition to this, right before I signed my lease, my Godson was diagnosed with leukemia. He lives in California and I had to rush out there and tend to him through this life threatened diagnosis, while the building of the studio commenced.

For a good period of time, I was very unsure about moving forward with opening a studio in New Orleans. After consulting with him, the rest of my family and our team of doctors I went ahead and took another huge leap of faith and signed a 5-year lease agreement to open Magnolia Yoga.

Since then, he has been doing well, with some setbacks. Through an amazing family support system and me flying back and forth, we are doing our best to support him through his cancer treatment.

The beauty through this particular challenge and other tough ones is that I now know what it takes to support a family member through cancer, and I can teach and support others from my experience. A true leader leads from experience.

 

SB: What is the most gratifying part about what you are doing?

AJ: There are a few things that give me gratification and one is when the yoga room is filled with people of color, men in particular! When that happens? I know my message is reaching and penetrating my target audience. But, the most gratifying part of my work is when people tell me how much better they are feeling.

How well they are sleeping through the night and how they can bend and move in ways they haven’t been able to in years. How their doctors are reducing and removing medications because their blood pressure has improved or their energy and metabolism has boosted and they don’t need as much or any thyroid meds.

Basically, when students share with me how the yoga is working for them. And these results often happens right away! Those stories and testimonies of stress relief and having more harmonious relationships with their kids and coworkers keeps me super motivated.

SB:What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

AJ: I think unrelenting belief in yourself is a priority. Having the commitment to your business and service is paramount, which means doing all that you can to help it grow.

This includes taking care of yourself and eating and sleeping well, as much as one might be out networking and building community connections.  To look at building your business as a person-by-person endeavor that requires an authentic connection and passion is essential!

 

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson

5 mins read

Food Heaven Made Easy: Serving Healthy Food & Nutrition Advice

If you’re like me, a large part of living a healthier lifestyle includes liking pics of healthy food on social media as opposed to actually cooking said healthy food.

I’m trying to do better though, as most of us are. That’s why I reached out to the founders of Food Heaven Made Easy, the go-to source for healthy recipes and info about nutritious living.

We chatted with Jessica, one half of the dynamic duo. This is what she had to say:

SB: Tell us a little bit about Jess and Wendy.

92
Wendy & Jess

Jess: We are both Registered Dietitians. Wendy is from NYC (the Bronx to be exact) and Jess used to live in Brooklyn but has since moved back to her home state of California.

TOPP-min

SB: How did you both meet and how did that lead to the creation of Food heaven Made Easy?

Jess: We actually met at a dinner and game night sponsored by a community organization. At the time, I had already started graduate school to get my Master’s in nutrition, and a few months later, Wendy decided that this would be a great career path for her too.

food heaven made easy

Though we went to different schools, we kept each other motivated throughout the process. Throughout this time, we ended up working together for the NYC Department of Health doing cooking demos and nutrition workshops in Harlem and the Bronx.

11701176_1086600768033892_186130259285244819_n

SB: How long have you been vegetarians and what influenced that decision?

Jess: I have been vegetarian since the age of 12. I never liked meat growing up and realized that being ‘vegetarian’ was a thing (around that age). I told my family that I wanted to be a vegetarian in the car one day and never ate meat since. Wendy on the other hand, grew up eating meat and loving every bite.

10494532_875855579108413_4572183996569002564_n

She became vegetarian due to gastrointestinal health concerns. After she gave up meat, her symptoms practically disappeared within months.

IMG_0607

SB: Many people focus on what they put in their hair to keep it healthy. However what we put in our bodies also affects our hair. What is the best way to eat for healthy hair?

Jess: This is absolutely true! The most important thing for healthy hair, skin and nails is to eat a well balanced healthy diet and to drink plenty of water. We encourage people to focus on vegetables (try to get at least 5 colors of veggies everyday), fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans.

10534135_879909245369713_5055831170966638466_n

Also, Yogurt is rich in B-vitamins, which are needed for protein synthesis. B-vitamins also promote the circulation of nutrients to our hair follicles, by making new blood cells. This ensures healthy hair follicles and scalps. Salmon is also a hair super-food, since it’s packed with protein, fish oil and selenium to strengthen and encourage hair growth.

IMG_0188

SB: There are so many types of diets being marketed as THE solution to weight loss. Are there any specific one that you can say are definitely a waste of time?

Jess: Yes, all of them! Kidding. But truth be told, diets don’t work. The trick is making small sustainable changes that add up to yield big results over time. No quick fixes when it comes to weight loss, just hard work and determination

food heaven made easy

 

SB: There are many diseases that disproportionately affect Black communities. Which do you tackle the most in your practice.

fhfinal11
Jess: We see a lot of diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and increasingly more Gastrointestinal problems like acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome.

7055_887575971269707_802776223293095115_nSB: What is the best advice you would give to someone who is just starting their journey to living a healthier lifestyle?

Jess: Start small. It’s always best to do small and attainable goals that add up and lead to big results over time. For folks who want a little more guidance, we will be publishing 28 Day Plant Powered Health Reboot Cookbook, which helps you create a more structured healthy eating plan for a month. With this book, you can fully dive in to a healthy diet with structure.

IMG_0876-1

Visit Wendy & Jess at  www.foodheavenmadeeasy.com for tips and tricks for delicious living and their monthly nutrition podcast. For those interested in personalized nutrition counseling, contact Jess via her website.

 

-Tony O. Lawson (@thebusyafrican)

1 3 4 5 6