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Healing in Motion: How Exercise Empowers Black Women on their Breast Cancer Journey

African-American women who engaged in vigorous exercise for at least three hours per week cut their risk of developing estrogen receptor–negative breast cancer in half, according to findings from the Black Women’s Health Study.

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Concierge Medicine: Personalized Healthcare at a Premium Price

Dr. Chrisette Dharma, Medical Director of Southwest Family Medicine Associates (SFMA), believes her practice strikes an affordable balance between concierge care and traditional medicine.

Health Topics

Health Is Wealth: The Hidden Cost of a Toxic Food Supply

Health Is Wealth: The Hidden Cost of a Toxic Food Supply

Columnist Michelle Pettes encourages us to prioritize our overall health and well-being.

iStock / David Prado

“A person who has their health has a thousand dreams. A person who is unhealthy has but one.”

Health is the foundation upon which all dreams are built. Without it, aspirations fade, replaced by the singular desire to regain what has been lost. Nowhere is this more relevant than in the African American community, where systemic barriers, economic disadvantages, and a toxic food supply fuel a crisis of diet-related diseases that shackle generations to illness and dependency.


The Hidden Dangers in Processed Food

Our food supply is loaded with ingredients that strip away vitality. Sugars, salt, corn, soy, gluten, peanuts, and dairy — these processed staples wreak havoc over time. High fructose corn syrup, refined flours, and hydrogenated oils are more than empty calories; they are poisons that impair health. Regular consumption leads to obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and autoimmune diseases, disproportionately affecting African Americans. The CDC reports that nearly 50% of African American adults are obese, a statistic exacerbated by food deserts that limit access to whole, nutritious foods.

The Economic Toll of Poor Health

Wealth cannot be attained or sustained without health. Poor nutrition leads to chronic illness, escalating healthcare costs, job loss, and reduced productivity. The American Diabetes Association states that African Americans are 60% more likely to develop diabetes, with annual medical expenses 2.3 times higher than those without the disease. Additionally, many lack proper health insurance, compounding the financial strain. The reality is stark — the healthy will rule the unhealthy. Those with physical and mental well-being have the clarity, stamina, and longevity to build wealth and create legacies, while the sick are left tethered to a system profiting from their suffering.

The Slow Poisoning of a People

Toxic food is more than a dietary misstep — it is a weapon. It distracts entire communities with the fight for survival rather than the pursuit of progress. Unlike an immediate threat, such as a venomous bite, processed food inflicts slow, cumulative damage. It dulls the mind, weakens the body, and steals years of life.

You may see a honey bun as a harmless treat. I see flour, sugar, fat, and salt—a dream killer. A moment of indulgence is part of a larger pattern that, over time, dictates a person’s fate. Poor food choices lead to a lifetime of limited potential.

Reclaiming Health, Reclaiming Power

The solution is to reclaim control over what we eat. Awareness is key — every bite we take either nourishes or enslaves us. We must prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods that heal rather than harm. Community initiatives, urban farming, and policy advocacy can help dismantle the systems pushing toxic

food into our neighborhoods. But real change starts within. Each person must make the conscious decision to fuel their body with food that empowers.

Health is not a privilege — it is a right. And with it comes the ability to dream — boldly and without limits. The choice is clear: reclaim health, reclaim dreams, reclaim destiny.

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A Deadly E. coli Outbreak Spread Across 15 States — and the FDA Kept Us in the Dark
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As Americans continue to trust that the food on their plates is safe, troubling revelations suggest that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may be keeping critical information under wraps. Multiple E. coli outbreaks have sickened dozens—some severely—while the agency has withheld key details such as food sources, affected regions, and even the names of implicated suppliers. In a system built on public trust and transparency, these omissions raise urgent questions: Why is the FDA staying silent, and what are the consequences for consumers?

Delayed Disclosures and Withheld Information

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