You may be familiar with the saying, “Let thy food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food.” The mantra speaks to the power of plants, especially when preventing and managing chronic illnesses.
------Advertisement-----
Poor nutrition contributes to the development of many chronic conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Black Americans are particularly at risk for these illnesses due to racist policies that leave their communities without access to fresh and affordable healthy food.
------Advertisement-----
However, Black nutrition gurus nationwide show us that when quality fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins are available, the results are life-saving and delicious. Whether you’re looking to manage your chronic disease or just want to cook delicious, healthy meals, these nutrition enthusiasts are a good place to start:
1. Mila Clarke Buckley
Mila Clarke Buckley is the creator of , a platform where she showcases diabetes-friendly recipes, such as low-carb cheese shell breakfast tacos and chaffles — a keto-friendly, sugar-free cheese-based waffle.
Buckley also offers one-on-one diabetes support as an integrative nutrition health coach. Her cooking and coaching are inspired by her personal health journey. In 2020, she discovered she had latent autoimmune disease in adults (LADA) after living with a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis for four years.
You can learn more about her experiences as a Black woman living with LADA, diabetes management, and self-care on her podcast, Your Diabestie Podcast.
2. Valorie Agyeman
Valorie Agyeman is a D.C. and NYC-based dietitian who provides medical nutrition therapy for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a reproductive condition that can be managed with vitamin D and omega 3s.
She founded , a platform for women’s health and nutrition, where women can create a healthy relationship with food while exploring taboo topics such as periods, hormone nutrition, body literacy, and more.
Check out Agyeman’s latest snack recipes on Instagram, and get more tips for hormone balance on The Flourish Heights Podcast.
3. Todd Anderson
No-meat cheesesteak egg rolls. Fully loaded mushroom lover’s pizza. Homemade dairy-free Captain Crunch cereal. Todd Anderson, a.k.a Turnip Vegan, has creative recipes for vegans or those looking to break into the plant-based lifestyle.
In “All About Plantz & Mushrooms,” Anderson’s latest cookbook, he shares more than 50 vegan recipes, from cashew mushroom curry noodles to extra crispy cajun mushroom sandwiches. His mission as a content creator, author, and mushroom lover: to “keep the vibes up!”
While Anderson doesn’t evangelize a plant-based diet, research shows that there are benefits. A vegan lifestyle can lower the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels and reduce the chances of developing certain cancers, such as colon cancer.
Follow Anderson’s journey and access recipes on his .
Get Word In Black directly in your inbox. .