Junk Food/ Fast Food Companies Disproportionately Target Communities of Color Study Finds
by India Camiel

According to a January 2019 Rudd Center for food Policy and Obesity report, there are increasing dispairites in unhealthy food advertising designed to target Black and Hispanic youth. Fast foods, candy and sugary drinks and snacks are amoung the top junk foods companies often target-market to Black and Hispanic children. According to the report, the total food-related advertising spending on Black-targeted TV increased by more than 50% from 2013 to 2017 ($217 million to $333 million).

The study also reported that in 2013, Black children and teens viewed 70% more food ads than their White peers viewed. In 2017, these disparities grew to 86% more ads viewed by Black children compared to White children and 119% more ads viewed by Black teens than by White teens.
Rudd concluded that this targeted advertising has helped to contribute to the health disparities in Black and Hispanic...

On the surface it may seem that we are in the golden age of the vegan. Everywhere you look, “meatless this and meatless that” are all the latest craze. Like sport, various companies are sprouting up and offering alternative plant-based “meat” options that are praised for their close-to-indistinguishable similarities with animal flesh. Of no surprise, more than 80% of the top meat producers are now making vegan alternative products, according to a list released by the National Provisioner.  And the question must be asked: Can and should vegans trust the source of some of the newly trending plant-based alternative meat substitutes? 

Remembering ignorant nostalgia of when I was first transitioning out of consuming animal products, simply deciding to do so in an effort to loose weight and not feel dis-eased. I wasn’t trying to be spiritual or deep about making the transition. I just figured I had nothing to loose. I was pleasantly shocked to find...

As an African woman out of the West, who is recovering from PTSD, Post Traumatic Slavery Syndrome, and all this disorder entails in the 21st Century, it had become first nature to fall into the detrimental habits of perfection-seeking, people-pleasing, and operating from ego-driven motivations. Unbeknown to me, and operating out of sheer habit learned in what I call abandonment survival mode, much of how I conditioned myself to operate and function in life did not serve my intentions to cultivate greater self-worth. 

In countless circumstances in relationships, I beat myself up about what I could have done differently when the outcomes did not turn out the way I thought they should have, especially when I thought I was on my "best" behavior. Or when I took special precautions to make sure acted in a way I thought the other person would have wanted me to. It did not occur to me that I only contributed secondary to others' responses and that their reactions were theirs...

Most times people ask me: "As a plant-based, living foodist, where do you get your protein?" Protein intake has been a hot topic since the 90's. But what about MINERALS?

I feel so many people who are transitioning into a plant-based lifestyle, especially ALL RAW or what I like to term, LIVING FOODS, simply are neglectful with proper mineral intake. Maybe it's because  only small quantities are needed to fulfill the daily intake. Maybe it's because mainstream is obviously OBSESSED with protein intake. Whatever the case, a number of "vegans" complain of low energy, moodiness and even slight bodily discomfort and or pain. 

As a plant-based, special nutritionist who has maintained this lifestyle for more than 13 years, I'd recommend anyone who is experiencing the above to recheck if they are getting the proper amount of minerals.

WHAT ARE MINERALS ANYWAY?

Minerals are inorganic chemicals that occur naturally. They are not created secondarily by a living organism. Though there...