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FunTimes Magazine

National Nutrition Month: Advancing Nutrition for Black Communities

Mar 17, 2022 07:00PM ● By Nana Ama Addo and Candice Stewart

( Photo by Lukas from Pexels. Edited. )

Most people know the saying of ‘Eat to live, not live to eat’. How does this come into play in the context of nutrition? Is there a way to eat healthy while maintaining the joy and savor of food? This month is National Nutrition Month, and we are promoting healthy living by highlighting healthy consuming habits, and strategies to practice nutrition.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics created National Nutrition Month to inform communities about helpful food choices, health-giving physical activity, and eating regimens. Through the 5 weeks of National Nutrition Month, organizers aim to inspire audiences to eat a variety of nutritious foods, see a registered dietician, plan meals and snacks, and create tasty foods at home.


( Photo by Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels )

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that fruits, vegetables, calcium-fortified foods, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products are good options for one’s diet. The CDC also recommends discovering healthier alternatives for frying foods, like grilling or boiling, and eating foods that are low in trans fats, added sugars, sodium, and cholesterol.


Read “5 Natural and Healthy Snack Ideas with Low Carbs”:

Photo Credit Foodiesfeed

5 Natural and Healthy Snack Ideas with Low Carbs

There are natural and healthy snack ideas with low carbs that can assist in nourishing the body and protecting it from dangerous diseases. Read More » 

 

( Photo by Monstera from Pexels )

Cultures of Africa, and the African Diaspora, including communities of Afro-Caribbean, Afro-American, or Afro-Asian descent, cultivate dishes that incorporate health-affirming fruits and vegetables that are indigenous to their home country. Let’s explore healthy items that can be incorporated into cultural meals.

The Real Taste of Jamaica by Enid Donaldson, notes that some healthy foods found in Caribbean cuisine include ackee, avocado, breadfruit, callaloo, christophene or shayote, djon djon, palm hearts, plantain, pumpkin, arrowroot, yuca, banana, oranges, soursop, guava, lime, mango, papaya, passion fruit, pomelo/shaddock, sorrel, tamarind, and ugli. Connect with a Caribbean acquaintance or discover Caribbean recipes and make healthy and delicious cultural dishes with these ingredients.


Read “The Delicious Cuisine of Dominica: Dominica Independence Day”:

The Delicious Cuisine of Dominica: Dominica Independence Day

Happy Independence Day, Dominica! On November 3rd, the Caribbean country gained independence from the British. To celebrate, we are exploring the cultural history and cuisine of the coun... Read More » 

 

 ( Noni. Image by Photo by iman santoso from Pexels )

Noni is a fruit that has exceptional health benefits and fights against cancer, fibromyalgia, arthritis, diabetes, asthma, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, HIV, menstrual disorders, acute and chronic pain, obesity, kidney disease, and more. Tahitian Noni Juice: How Much, How Often for What by Dr. Neil Solomon, MD, Ph.D., provides more detail about how to utilize noni for health benefits. Other superfoods to incorporate into a food regimen include papaya, swiss chard, collard greens, turnips, and spinach.


Read “6 Black-Owned Smoothie & Juice Bars for Your Next Health Drink”:

6 Black-Owned Smoothie  Juice Bars for Your Next Health Drink

6 Black-Owned Smoothie & Juice Bars for Your Next Health Drink

Keep healthy this winter with a refreshing, vitamin-packed, fresh juice or smoothie from one of these six Black-owned smoothing and juice bars across the USA. Read More » 

 

Sedentary lifestyles, or lifestyles with little to no movement, can have negative effects on the body’s health. Movement or exercise and intermittent walking are important add-ons to nutrition because these activities can lessen the risk of chronic disease. The US Department of Health and Public Services reports that adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity per week.


Read “Self Care: Exercising”:

Self Care: Exercising

In a recent interview with FunTimes Magazine, Dr. McGuire-Brown described self-care as “a mind, body and soul experience. It is the connectivity of mentally loving yourself, physically ta... Read More » 

 

What nutrition advice do you have?



Works Cited

https://www.eatright.org/food/resources/national-nutrition-month

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/index.html

https://www.agqlabs.us.com/heavy-metals-in-foods/

https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/ethnobotany/food/vegetables.shtml

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/true-superfoods#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2





 Nana Ama Addo is a writer, multimedia strategist, film director, and storytelling artist. She graduated with a BA in Africana Studies from the College of Wooster, and has studied at the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Nana Ama tells stories of entrepreneurship and Ghana repatriation at her brand, Asiedua’s Imprint www.asieduasimprint.com ).









Read more from Nana Ama Addo:
 A Black family Photo by Agung Pandit Wiguna from Pexels A Colon Image by Shelleyyavaughn via Wikimedia Commons httpscommonswikimediaorgwikiFileColon_illustration_lgjpg Collard greens Image by Nolabob via Wikimedia Commons httpscommonswikimediaorgwikiFileCollard_greens_on_a_stovetopjpg No smoking sign Image by Lynne Hand via Flickr httpswwwflickrcomphotosyour_teacher384940702 Watermelon juice Photo by Bruno Scramgnon from Pexels

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 Candice Stewart is a Jamaican content writer specializing in human interest feature stories. She is a web content writer, blogger, and budding podcaster.

She holds an MA in Communication for Social and Behaviour Change and a BSc. in Psychology from the University of the West Indies (UWI, Mona).

Follow her blog at thesuburbangirlja.com, where she shares stories and life lessons through real-life experiences.



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