Posted by HUED Admin in General on July 3rd, 2022
It goes without saying that life can get hectic, so we compiled a list of foods to help with stress relief. Yes, stress relief, if we remember in our previous article #HustleCulture Booked & Busy But What about Rest? We touched on the rising risk of stroke in young adults due to sleep deprivation and stress.
Making sure the foods you keep in your pantry provide you with the necessary nutrients is essential to keeping your stress levels low. Below is a list of 5 food items you should incorporate into your meals.
Banana: Bananas are a good source of dopamine, and one serving can give you 23% of the daily potassium you need. They also contain over 40% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin B6, making them a vitamin-friendly and stress-reducing gold mind!
Yogurt: Most know that yogurt has natural probiotics that are good for the digestive system but did you know that it also helps with stress relief? The process of fermentation milk allows “good” bacteria to rise in yogurt. Research is finding much stress causing hormones to rest in the gut, so eating foods that balance gut health are needed in our book!
Oatmeal: Oatmeal, one of the go-to breakfast items, is also on the list for stress-relieving foods. The high magnesium content helps satisfy hunger which allows high levels of serotonin to flow through the body.
Dark Chocolate: We were happy to see chocolate on stress-relieving foods. Yes, dark chocolate is an item you do not have to take out of your kitchen. Instead, tell them HUED said to keep it because it has been proven a mood booster. One study observed high anxiety patients and found that 40g of daily serving over two weeks had a noticeable impact on their mood and gut health.
Tea: It is tea time! Tea is a beverage that is a proven stress reliever. Over six weeks, such as black and green teas have been proven to help reduce cardiovascular issues. Depression and anxiety are linked to cardiovascular problems positively impacted by team consumption.
Also, take this moment to contact your primary care provider (or find one) to set up an appointment to discuss more stress-relieving foods. Finally, look at the HUED directory that connects Black, Latinx, and Indigenous patients with culturally humble medical providers.
Site content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Posted by HUED Admin in General on March 17th, 2022
Specific experiences seem similar in our storytelling when growing up in communities that center marginalized people of color. One, in particular, the corner store, aka the mini-mart, bodega, whatever you called it, they are the one-stop shops for the local neighborhood.
Individuals can get groceries, medications, news, and it is a community gathering spot. Unfortunately, although they seem to be a staple in the communities of marginalized people of color, they lack many of the staple items our bodies need and the culturally competent doctors the community needs.
According to Feeding America, hunger and food insecurity impacts 12% of our 41 million population. Food insecurity can be seen clearer in communities across the country where marginalized people of color unknowingly live in Food Deserts.
Food Deserts are low-income tracts in which a substantial number or proportion of the population has low access to supermarkets or large grocery stores. Many corner stores lack items or large quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables but continue to have bags of chips, sodas, and processed foods, high in sodium and high in sugar.
Many providers have admitted that food deserts are “complex problems” that require continuous dialogue between patients and providers. Providers must have the cultural competency to have these conversations before making recommendations.
Fast Food: Oppression Through Poor Nutrition states that poor nutrition can lead to:
In children, poor nutrition can show a lack of focus or other disruptions in the classroom. Hunger in children is why school meal programs are essential because, for some students, it may be their one daily meal. Currently,22 million children in America rely on school programs for breakfast and lunch.
With 12% of our country experiencing food insecurity, food justice should matter to everyone within the healthcare system. We cannot adequately advocate for healthy communities until we address food insecurity which looks like:
We also encourage you to continue asking questions and expressing concerns when engaging with your provider. Questions such as those below can start the conversation:
These questions allow open dialogue and a collaborative approach between the patient and physician when approaching nutrition. In addition, during the summer of 2022, HUED will be launching its E-learning pilot course centering on cultural competency. This program will equip care seekers and providers with the information needed to understand how these health detriments impact us individually and as a community.
Subscribe to the HUED newsletter to stay up to date about the launch of our e-learning platforms.
Achieving food equity is a system issue that requires change beyond community effort. Finding a provider that understands this health detriment can help open a dialogue about nutrition.
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Site content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
