March 2023 Health Supplement - Women's Health

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WOMEN’S HEALTH

MARCH 2023

HEALTH, WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

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By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

Happy Women’s History Month! Just as Black history is American history, women’s history, or “herstory,” for that matter, is key to history overall, our collective stories– “ourstory,” if you will.

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As we were planning this health supplement in March, covering Black women’s health was a natural fit. However, focusing on Black women’s health was more than a convenient way to uplift ladies in healthcare. Understanding and prioritizing Black women’s health is necessary in addressing challenges in the African American community.

I contend Black women are superheroes. While many live day in and day out as “strong Black women,” African American women face major health disparities.

As strong and resilient as Black women often are, between historic mistreatment of their bodies, environmental and social factors that detrimentally affect health, and racism in healthcare that persists today, Black women are being disproportionately affected at higher rates for diseases such as “anemia, cardiovascular disease and obesity,” according to “Health Equity Among Black Women in the United States,” a February 2021 study published in “Journal of Women’s Health.”

The journal, written by Juanita J. Chinn, Iman K. Martin and Nicole Redmond, notes Black women have shorter life expectancies and higher maternal mortality rates than other women in the United States.

“The higher burden of these chronic conditions reflects the structural inequities within and outside the health system that Black women experience throughout the life course,” the writers note. “The health inequities experienced by Black women are not merely a cross section of time or the result of a singular incident.”

Dr. Karenga Lemmons, who has worked as physician for more than four decades, said inequities in access to healthcare and other societal and structural challenges, Black women tend to face further overall challenges.

Often serving as givers versus receivers, Lemmons, who is also my cousin, said it is particularly imperative

that Black women prioritize their health in order to continue serving other people’s needs. Referencing Sophia A. Nelson’s 2022 book, “Be the One You Need: 21 Life Lessons I Learned While Taking Care of Everyone but Me,” Lemmons noted how unhealthy it can be when women don’t prioritize health first.

“Black women are often the providers, [but] it’s time to take care of your health,” Dr. Lemmons said. “As an individual, if you can’t take care of your health, you can’t take care of others.”

STRONG BLACK WOMAN VS. HEALTHY BLACK WOMAN

While “strong Black women,” should be celebrated, it’s also imperative that we emphasize the importance of “healthy Black women.” The strong Black woman stereotype, research shows, contributes to the implicit bias often seen in the medical industry when treating African American women patients.

“Research consistently has documented the continued impacts of systematic oppression, bias, and unequal treatment of Black women,” the journal notes.

Due to stereotypes, some doctors don’t always take African American women seriously.

“We also carry a lot of stigma as Black women. We’re too emotional, we’re overly aggressive and all these social factors go into how we are afraid to take care of our health,” said Lemmons.

In April 2021, my mother, the Rt. Reverend Paula Clark, experienced an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) rupture in her cerebellum, causing bleeding in her brain. The AVM ruptured at a gym and though she was in a health crisis, she had to call emergency services herself, and her best friend, a Black woman physician in Chicago, had to insist doctors conduct imaging tests, which ultimately diagnosed the issue and saved her life. Initially doctors planned to send her packing with instructions to rest and eat.

My mother’s story isn’t isolated.

In the famous 1964 words of activist Fannie Lou Hamer, Black women are “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” They deserve respect and just treatment when addressing health challenges.

It’s time to go beyond “strong Black women,” and help people appreciate the importance of “healthy Black women.” Prioritizing “healthy Black women,” will not only help in encouraging self-care and healthier living, but will offer wake up calls to practitioners who undermine Black wellness. Further, uplifting Black women’s health, by nature of womanhood, can put a stop to generational health challenges faced in African American communities.

WI

In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark

5 WI Managing Editor Micha Green considers the importance of Black women’s health. (Courtesy Photo)

Black Women Pioneers in Medicine: Stories of Perseverance

By James Wright WI Staff Writer

The first Black women to pursue careers in the health and medical professions often overcame great odds to become practitioners aiming to provide quality care for their patients who were often African Americans and the indigent.

Before the Civil War, Black women mainly served as informal, untrained medical caregivers whether working as domestics in the North and under their enslavers in the South. Formal medical training for African American women for the most part didn’t exist and they learned their trade from others. During the Civil War, some Black women nursed wounded Union soldiers.

After the Civil War, a small group of Black women decided to seek training to become licensed practitioners. Mary Eliza Mahoney, a Black woman from Dorchester, Massachusetts became the first Black woman to become a certified nurse, according to an article written by Latha Sushi Bhavani published in February 2021 by Auburn University. In 1879, she became the first African American to graduate from an American school of nursing, what is now known as the Dimock Community Health Center. Mahoney underwent a 16-month training program often working a 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. shift while attending classes and observing doctors performing their duties. After becoming certified she worked as a private care nurse.

A former nurse, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, has been recognized as the first Black female physician in the U.S., according to Dr. Lee Markel in a PBS.org piece, “Celebrating Rebecca Crumpler, first African American Woman Physician” in March 2016. Crumpler, a native of Massachusetts, attended a female prep school in the late 1840s. She moved to Charlestown, Massachusetts to work as a nurse in 1852. Crumpler applied to the New En -

gland Female College in 1860 and graduated in 1864 as its only Black graduate. The school closed in 1873. Crumpler practiced in Boston and post-Civil War Richmond. She lived in the Hyde Park neighborhood of New York City, but Markel said it isn’t clear whether she practiced medicine.

While there are no known images of her, Crumpler wrote a book, “A Book of Medical Discourses in Two Parts,” that was well-received for its commentary on Black maternal health. Crumpler begins the book with a dedication: “To mothers, nurses, and all who mitigate the afflictions of the human race. This book is prayerfully offered.”

The barrier-breaking Crumpler offered suggestions to approach motherhood, such as how to swaddle a baby.

“The face of an infant should never be covered when asleep, especially when in the bed with adults; it induces lung difficulties. The blood must pass through the heart and lungs, uninterrupted, day and night, in order to supply all parts of the body,” she said. I believe that all infants should be supplied with a light covering for the head day and night, until the hair grows out. The old style lace cap, for instance, deserves a conspicuous place among the relics of health preservers.”

When offering advice for a newborn’s first wash she said, “by using oil in the first cleaning, the temperature of the child’s body is not much changed.”

Ida Gray Nelson Rollins is known as the first Black female dentist in the nation, according to an Oregon Health & Science University article, “Women Who Inspire Us: Ida Gray Nelson Rollins.” Rollins was born in Tennessee in 1867 but moved with her family to Ohio. She worked in the dental office of Jonathan Taft as his assistant. When Taft became the first dean of the University of Michigan College of Dentistry, he was open to women coming into the profession and admitted Rollins. In 1890,

Rollins graduated from the dental school, becoming the first African American female to hold a doctorate of dental surgery in the country. She returned to Ohio to practice but moved with her husband to Chicago. Rollins resumed her practice in Chicago, where she died in 1953.

WI

@JamesWrightJr10

4 Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first Black woman physician in the U.S., wrote “A Book of Medical Discourses: In Two Parts,” in 1883. (Courtesy Photo)

What You Put On Your Plate Matters: Three Small Changes To Create Lifelong Habits

By Rhonda Watson, Roots for Life Executive Director,  Amber Grant Winner for Female Entrepreneurs  info@roots-for-life.org

Most people want to have better eating habits, but sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start. Change is hard but not impossible. Research tells us that it takes 66 days to create a habit on average. That means in a little more than two months, you can be on your way to a healthier, happier you.  Starting small and making additional adjustments along the way can turn new behaviors into lifelong habits.

At Roots for Life, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit, our goal is to help you make incremental healthy changes by incorporating nutritious food into your day-to-day regimen. The more you know about nutrition, the better decisions you can make about your meals, the healthier you will be. On our website we share examples, instructions, and hands-on

opportunities to make changes easier to implement.

What you put on your plate matters. Your food  choices have long-term consequences on your health, and in fact eating more nutritiously can prevent many diet-related illnesses.

Choosing to be healthy is just that – a choice. While it’s not often viewed as the easiest, cheapest route, the fact is that eating better can be convenient and budget-friendly when you know what to look for and how to ease into it. Building balanced meals has ample benefits to your overall health. Not only does eating healthy keep you fuller longer, it also prevents spikes in your blood sugar and excessive weight gain.

Although changing the way you eat can sometimes feel intimidating, here are three ways to make it easier to get started:

1. Ask Yourself One Question During Each Meal

Roots for Life’s nutrition blogger, Kara Plyler, suggests you ask yourself one simple question at each meal:

How can I make this meal more balanced? What we know about diet and nutrition has evolved over the past 40 years. The good news is that the current rule of thumb for a balanced meal is as easy as it’s ever been: half of your plate should be filled with fruits or vegetables; proteins and whole grains should each take up a quarter of the remaining space. Try to add one or more healthy foods to each meal. Small adjustments at every meal can not only help your plate become more balanced, but it can also help turn these small changes into habitual practices. Plus, it’s delicious!

2. Focus On Your Macronutrients (Protein, Carbs, and Fat) Macronutrients are the cornerstone of your diet. In other words, these are the foods that comprise most of your daily nutrients and keep you healthy and fit. No healthy diet should exclude or seriously restrict any macronutrients. Instead, it’s important to choose the healthiest options for your wellbeing, many of which are easy on

your bank account, including:

• Carbohydrates: Starches including brown rice, whole wheat pasta; Veggies/greens including broccoli, sweet potatoes, kale,

• Protein: Beans, tuna, salmon, chicken breast

• Fat: Nuts, seeds, avocado, yogurt (including plant-based options)

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Spice It Up!

One key thing to remember: you should always enjoy your food! Using spices and seasonings according to your culture and taste preferences are major factors in turning a bland meal into a feast for the senses. If you’re like me, you’ve watched countless cooking shows and noted that chefs use salt generously in meal preparation. It’s important to note, however, that flavor enhancement does not have to come from salt. Health coach Dr.

Kelly Morgan states that all spices fall in the superfood category. Ginger and turmeric, for example, are two anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich spices that add heaps of flavor.

Gone are the days when all fat was considered bad and calorie counting was the peak of healthy living. Today, it’s about being intentional about your choices in creating healthy, balanced meals. If you can incorporate these three steps, you will not only create healthier lifelong habits, but your meals will be more nutritious - and delicious!

Visit our Roots for Life blog, which is packed with helpful tips and resources for creating and supporting a healthy lifestyle. Soon we will debut our video library of instructional cooking and gardening videos and other nutritional information. Let us know what you think!

Rhonda L. Watson, MPS, is the executive director of Roots for Life, a grassroots volunteer organization founded in 2017, and campaign manager for a leading national nonprofit focused on workplace giving. Rhonda was awarded the 2022 Amber Grant for Women Entrepreneurs by WomensNet. Connect with her by visiting https://www.roots-for-life.org/staff.

5 Roots for Life Executive Director, Rhonda Watson, and volunteers preparing to cook at the Markets & More Farmers’ Market.

By Stacy Brown WI Senior Staff Writer

Each year in the United States, about 700 people die during pregnancy or the year after.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), another 50,000 people each year have spontaneous labor and delivery outcomes with serious shortor long-term health consequences.

“Every pregnancy-related death is tragic, especially because two in three of them are preventable,” the CDC said.

In 2020, the CDC reported African American women are disproportionately affected by maternal mortality with 55.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.9 times the rate for non-Hispanic white women and higher than the rate for Hispanic women. The 2020 report also showed the increase from 2019 to 2020 for non-Hispanic Black women was significant.

During Black Maternal Health Week (BHMW) in 2021, President Joseph Biden (D) acknowledged the issues affecting Black mothers.

“Vice President Harris and I are committed to pursuing systemic policies that provide comprehensive, holistic maternal healthcare that is free from bias and discrimination. The morbidity and mortality disparities that Black mothers face are not the results of isolated incidents,” Biden wrote in a proclamation on April 13, 2021. Our Nation must root out systemic racism everywhere it exists.”

Even tennis superstar Serena Williams described the undermining attitude of medical professionals when giving birth.

“I’ve suffered every injury imaginable, and I know my body,” Williams wrote in an essay for Elle Magazine. “Giving birth to my baby, it turned out, was a test for how loud and how often I would have to call out before I was finally heard.”

Williams recalled enjoying a “wonderful pregnancy” with her first child, Alexis Olympia, and even her epidural-free delivery had gone well – until it didn’t.

“By the next morning, the contractions were coming harder and faster. With each one, my baby’s heart rate plummeted. I was scared,” the 23-time Grand Slam winner wrote.

“Every time the baby’s heart rate dropped, the nurses would come in and tell me to turn onto my side. The baby’s heart rate would go back up, and everything seemed fine. Then, I’d have another contraction, and baby’s heart rate would drop again, but I’d turn over, and the rate would go back up, and so on and so forth.”

In an earlier report, the CDC noted significant disparities in the birthing experiences of Black women. The agency noted that Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women.

The agency said that several things, such as differences in the quality of health care, long-term health problems, structural racism, and implicit bias causes these differences.

After an emergency cesarean, Williams gave birth to her daughter, Alexis.

Afterward, she said she had to fight for her life.

Already classified as a high risk for blood clots, Williams inquired whether she should receive heparin, a blood thinner.

“The response was, ‘Well, we don’t really know if that’s what you need to be on right now,’” Williams wrote.

“No one was really listening to what I was saying.”

Despite excruciating pain, Williams continued to speak out to her healthcare providers. At one point, she felt paralyzed.

“I couldn’t move at all,” she re-

counted.

Aching and coughing to the point where her C-section stitches burst, Williams complained that she couldn’t breathe.

After four surgeries, doctors found a blood clot in one of her arteries, a hematoma in her abdomen, and other clots.

She said the nurse she had previously spoken with told her that the medicine was making her crazy. Had she gone along with the nurse’s assertions, Williams could have died.

“Being heard and appropriately treated was the difference between life or death for me,” Williams asserted.

Black Mamas Matter Alliance, based in Atlanta, hosts Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) to combat challenges like Williams and others have faced. The weeklong campaign is intentionally held during National Minority Health Month and begins on April 11, which the United Nations recognizes as the International Day for Maternal Health and Rights. As part of BMHW, the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, which draws influence from the reproductive and birth justice movements, conducts activities to elevate the voices of “Black Mamas.” This year’s theme is “Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Autonomy and Joy!”

WI

@StacyBrownMedia

MARCH 15, 2023 | 12:30PM TO 1:30PM HATTIE HOLMES SENIOR WELLNESS CENTER 324 KENNEDY STREET NW AND ONLINE WEBEX Join

adults aged 60 and above on mental health parity in the District. Hear from experts at DISB, the DC Department of B ehavioral Health, the DC B ehavioral Health Association, and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors.

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5 Tennis star Serena Williams opened up about her challenges giving birth. Black women are disproportionately affected by maternal mortality than their white counterparts.

Submitted by DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH)

Opioid-related overdose deaths in the District have risen steadily in recent years and the pandemic exacerbated the problem, with lockdowns initially making it harder to access addiction services. In addition, a large portion of drugs — including heroin, cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine — are now being laced with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Last year, there were 427 opioid-related overdose deaths in the District. According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 95% of those deaths included the presence of fentanyl.

DC’s Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) and its community partners have announced the continued expansion of its naloxone distribution program and the launch of a new campaign to encourage treatment for those suffering from

Recovery Is Possible

addiction. Both initiatives are part of LIVE.LONG.DC. 2.0, the District’s strategic plan to reduce opioid use, misuse, and related deaths.

DBH makes naloxone, a life-saving medication used to reverse an opioid-related overdose, widely available and easy to get for free, without a prescription or ID required in pharmacies and at community sites. The program has grown from a handful of initial distribution sites to nearly 40 pharmacy locations and over 120 community organizations in all eight Wards.

In addition, in 2020, DBH launched a unique naloxone distribution service. By texting the words LiveLongDC to 888-811, District residents get a message back with a link to a map of the locations where they can pick up naloxone. Recently, an option for free home delivery and mail delivery was added to the service.

“Naloxone should be near at hand like any lifesaving medication. Family, friends, and others in

the community can use naloxone to save someone who is overdosing,” said Dr. Barbara J. Bazron, Director of the Department of Behavioral Health. “We want all District residents to be ready to save a life and carry naloxone.”

Recognizing that a substance use disorder is a disease and that users often must seek treatment multiple times as part of their recovery journey, DBH has launched a new public education campaign designed to encourage users to try again at treatment with the hope that “this time can be different.” The campaign highlights DBH’s comprehensive set of treatment supports, including:

• Free substance use disorder treatment, available seven days a week at sites across the District;

• Three medications (methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone) proven effective at treating the disease of addiction;

• Enhanced care coordination so that individuals receive comprehen-

meth cocaine pills heroin

sive care;

• Peer counselors who have been there, and can support an individual through treatment and recovery; and

• Transportation, recovery housing and other support services.

“We need DC residents with substance use disorders to know that DBH has the services and supports to help them succeed,” said Bazron. “We know that treatment works, and recovery is possible.”

Information about the District’s recovery services is available online at MyRecoveryDC.org or by calling the 24-hour Access Helpline at 1-888-793-4357 (7WE-HELP).

The Perfect Plate

By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD Safeway Corporate Dietitian (@therecipedoctor and author of 25 books)

The Plate Method

“The Plate Method” is a simple, more visual way to help manage your blood sugars and control portion sizes. Start by filling half of your nineinch lunch or dinner plate with nonstarchy vegetables and a quarter each with starchy foods and protein-rich foods. No counting required! But here’s the catch: The starch section of your plate shouldn’t be much thicker than a deck of cards.

Let’s Do the Math:

One cup of most cooked whole grains and starchy foods, two slices of whole wheat bread or two, six inch tortillas each contribute around 25-35 grams of carbohydrates. The protein-rich lean meat or fish entree generally won’t add to this total but the half-a-plate of nonstarchy vegetables will add roughly 10 grams. In many cases, this will bring you to about 40 grams before

adding fruit or dairy. If your target meal is 45 grams, try saving your side of fruit or dairy for a snack.

What About Mixed Dishes?

Let’s be honest: Many of our favorite meals are mixed dishes. How do we use the plate method for these? For entrees like lasagna, about one cup will count as your meat and starch servings, according to the American Diabetes Association. For a hamburger, your whole wheat bun will count toward the starch section of your plate while your lean burger will count toward the protein section. The trick with mixed meals is to remember that each plate is made up of individual components, and these components contribute toward your overall daily intake of nutrients.

Balancing Act

Create a balanced, diabetes-friendly meal by including three of the following: Protein, nonstarchy vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and fresh or frozen fruit.

Turkey Provolone Pesto Wrap

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes

SERVINGS: 2

INGREDIENTS:

2 whole wheat flour tortillas

2 tablespoons basil pesto

3 ounces thinly sliced roasted turkey breast

4 thin slices 2% reduced fat provolone cheese

1 cup fresh baby spinach

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place tortillas on cutting board (microwave briefly if tortilla needs to be softened) and spread pesto evenly over the top of each. Place turkey breast evenly over pesto and top each with two slices of cheese down the center of the tortilla. Place spinach leaves evenly over the tops of the entire tortilla.

2. Roll up from the side without the cheese. Cut each in half and wrap in plastic wrap or serve with a toothpick to keep them rolled up.

3. Add a side of fruit to complete your plate.

Greek Yogurt Power Bowl

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes

SERVINGS: 1

INGREDIENTS:

¾ cup non-fat, plain Greek yogurt

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon honey or 1. Teaspoons strawberry jam

½ banana, diced

1/3 cup fresh or frozen berries of choice

¼ cup whole grain granola of choice

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add yogurt to a large, 1-serving bowl and stir in vanilla and honey or jam.

2. Top with diced banana and berries. If you are making this ahead, cover and keep in refrigerator until needed. Sprinkle granola over the top right before eating.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexpected death of a seemingly healthy infant less than 1 year of age.1 SIDS is the most recognizable sudden, unexpected infant death (SUID) and has no known cause.2 For parents, not knowing what causes SIDS can be scary, but there are steps that you can take and factors to be aware of to reduce the chances of SIDS in your infant.

Factors That Increase the Risk of SIDS

SIDS is diagnosed after all other possible causes of death have been ruled out.3 There are several factors that can increase your baby’s risk for

SIDS. These factors include:1

• Sex.

Infant boys are slightly more likely to die from SIDS.

• Age.

Infants are most vulnerable to SIDS between two and four months.

• Family history.

Infants with siblings or cousins who passed away from SIDS are at a higher risk for SIDS.

• Premature birth.

Being born prematurely increases the likelihood that a baby’s brain has not matured completely, giving them less control over automatic processes, such as breathing and heart rate, increasing their risk for SIDS.

Creating a Safe Sleeping Environment for Your Baby

SIDS often takes place while the baby is asleep or in the area where the baby sleeps.4 About 3,500 infants die each year unexpectedly in their sleep, most of these deaths being due to SIDS.5 You can create a safe sleeping environment for your baby and reduce the chances of a sleep-related

death by:1,

• Placing your baby on their back for sleeping.

• Laying your baby on a firm, flat surface. A crib or bassinet with a firm surface is better for safe sleeping. A fluffy blanket or a soft mattress can block your baby’s airway.

• Placing your baby in their own crib for sleeping. It is recommended that you and your baby share a room at bedtime, however, their risk for SIDS increases if they sleep in the same bed as their parents or siblings.

• Making sure your baby’s sleeping environment is at a comfortable temperature. Overheating while sleeping can increase your baby’s risk for SIDS.

Other Prevention Methods

While there is no way to completely prevent SIDS, there are other methods that you can follow to lessen the chances of SIDS in your baby:6,7,8

• Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding has many benefits when it comes to im-

proving the health of you and your baby. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding can reduce risks for SIDS by up to 64%.

• Pacifier use. Giving your baby a pacifier during naptime and bedtime may help reduce the risk of SIDS. However, you should not hang a pacifier around your baby’s neck or attach it to their clothes while they sleep.

• Staying smoke-free. Keeping your baby in a smoke-free environment reduces the risk of SIDS. This can mean limiting or quitting smoking altogether. Secondhand smoke can increase the risk of SIDS and other health problems. Mothers who smoke while they are pregnant also increase their baby’s risk for SIDS.

• Incorporate “tummy time.”

Giving your baby plenty of “tummy time,” or time spent lying on their stomach, is an important way to monitor your baby’s motor skills and movement. Supervised tummy time can help reduce the risk of SIDS and prevent flat spots on the back of your baby’s head.

The cause of SIDS remains unknown, which can create a frightening reality for parents and caregivers. If you are concerned about SIDS and its risks for your baby, contact your primary care physician about safe sleeping and other SIDS prevention methods.

Sources:

1. “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS),” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20352800

2. “New Research on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS),” Nationwide Children’s Hospital, https://www.nationwidechildrens. org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2022/08/new-sids-research

3. “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS),” KidsHealth, https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/ sids.html#:~:text=What%20Is%20

CONTINUED ON PAGE HS-11

For parents, not knowing what causes SIDS can be scary, but there are steps that you can take and factors to be aware of to reduce the chances of SIDS in your infant.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE HS-10

SIDS%3F,still%20called%20 %22crib%20death.%22

4. “About SUID and SIDS,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/sids/about/index.htm

5. “How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained,” Healthychildren.org, https://www.healthychildren.org/ English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/AParents-Guide-to-Safe-Sleep.aspx

6. “Breastfeeding: AAP Policy Explained,” Healthychildren.org, https://www.healthychildren.org/ English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/ Pages/Where-We-Stand-Breastfeeding. aspx

7. “Pacifiers: Are They Good for Your Baby?” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/ healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/pacifiers/ art-20048140#:~:text=Sucking%20on%20a%20pacifier%20 might,reduce%20the%20risk%20 of%20SIDS%20.

8. “Ways to Reduce Baby’s Risk,” National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/ safesleepbasics/risk/reduce

All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model

#BestMe Corner

Bright Start® and Maternal Care

AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia (DC) proudly offers special programs to ensure the health of enrollees, including our Bright Start program. Bright Start is a maternity care program designed to support you throughout your pregnancy and after you give birth. Bright Start is a safe place for you to ask questions and get the care you need for you and your baby.

Bright Start program members will be able to work with a Care Manager to help receive and use proper program services.

Bright Start can help you:

• Find an OB/GYN or midwife.

• Schedule transportation to and from your appointments.

• Get diapers, a car seat, a breast pump, and other supplies.

• Find breastfeeding support and childbirth classes.

• Create a birth plan.

• Sign up for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

• Find housing.

• Sign up for home-delivered meals and other nutrition programs.

To learn more about Bright Start, visit www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com/member/eng/healthy-living/programs.aspx, or call 1-877-759-6883, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Families: A Q&A with Liz Jones of Greenwithin

By Kayla Benjamin Climate & Environment Writer

Liz Jones founded the nonprofit Greenwithin in 2020, to create sustainable food opportunities for underserved D.C. communities through local organic agriculture, plant based food and nutrition education. In 2021, the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund DMV selected her out of over 300 applicants to join the 10-person inaugural Black Justice Fellows cohort of local leaders.

The 34-year-old mother of two spoke with the Washington Informer’s Kayla Benjamin about her mission and why access to healthy, home-cooked food matters to her.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Kayla Benjamin: Tell me a little bit about what you do, and how you got into the food space.

Liz Jones: So, I’ve been cooking for the community since around 2014.

I started doing pop ups with vegan, plant-based food. And I started to realize that my demographic—they either just couldn’t afford the food or they didn’t see the importance in buying it. It wouldn’t be their first choice in a pop up. So I figured that there was just a lot of work that needed to be done on the education part. And it probably wouldn’t be smart for me to continue to charge people for food that they weren’t gonna buy. So in 2015, I kind of switched up my entire model and just started my nonprofit work, and I re-entered these spaces with free food that I will get the community, for the most part, to pay for. And over time, that just turned into me getting kind of out of the more for-profit spaces and just getting directly into the community. I started driving up and down, through Ward 8, with a whole bunch of my friends, just cooking every Sunday—delivering 200, 300 meals every weekend.

[We were] partnering with Elmira’s grocery store, over in Ward 8, partnering with local farms and farmers markets. And then in 2020, I was able to get my own farm [in Maryland]. So we’ve kind of been growing food for our community meals and trying to figure out really how

to just scale up that entire process.

KB: Why did you get into plant-based cooking to start with?

LJ: I grew up with my mom and my grandma, and my family’s from North Carolina. So I just always have been outside. I’ve always foraged, gardened—we had apple trees and just a bunch of stuff down on the land. I grew up in Takoma Park, and we’ve always gone to co-ops and cooked fresh stuff. And my mom’s family have a lot of Indigenous ancestry, and my mom got like the natural download of all healthy things. So she’s been like our shaman, you know, our holistic doctor. This has been my entire life. And so it really was getting back to that after kind of going to high school and just kind of falling off from what I know is right. And I’ve always been very aware of how food affects your mental and physical health.

After I had my kid, I think I realized that I can’t kind of BS it anymore. I was kind of the ‘unhealthy vegetarian’ that ate pizza and Chipotle all the time. And I was moving around a lot. I was living in New York, and when I came back to D.C. to have my kid, I moved back in with my grandmother. She was like my kitchen person—she taught me how to cook, how to navigate the kitchen, how to peel potatoes at like six years old.

KB: What, to you, defines healthy food?

LJ: I’m big on listening to my body. My mom has always just made us aware of how we’re energy beings—you’re introducing energy to your body in different ways. Every day you just have to be aware of how it impacts you. And so I started to notice, just how I would feel after eating certain things, how I feel after eating meals with my grandma that were really heavy.

I’m not into feeling guilty for eating anything, or restricting yourself. You know, it’s really about just figuring out what makes you feel good. You know what makes your skin glow. What gives you energy, what keeps your health in optimal shape.

And I feel like the earth just kind of tells you what’s healthy. We live in America where there’s a lot of fast, convenient type of stuff. But my grandmother cooked every day—we have

a huge family and she cooked every single day. I didn’t really grow up on fast food and didn’t grow up on TV dinners. We cooked fresh: we shucked corn in the kitchen, we snapped the ends off of string beans. So I would like to think that I was just lucky enough to never have broken my natural relationship with what is healthy. I feel like we are taught kind of the opposite of that—but I think we’ve just been kind of rooted in that as a family, and I’m very grateful for that.

KB: You mentioned an education component to your work. What barriers do you think people in the communities that you serve face when it comes to healthy cooking?

LJ: A lot of it is really generational. You see families that have just been making ends meet for generations. And it’s about accessibility—you can tell peo-

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5 Liz Jones (center), stands with volunteers and partners at a New Year’s celebration in front of Elmira’s Market, passing out free blackeyed Peas and greens. (Courtesy of Liz Jones)

Books about Black Women’s Body Image

By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

The last two apps you downloaded were for diets. Ugh.

Friends say that you’re perfect but you’d like to lose your flabby arms, your thick thighs, and a few inches from your belly. You imagine what you’d be like if you were a size 6. You wonder if you could wear skinny boots again. But before you download another app, read these books about Black women’s health and body image...

There are a few books out this year that encourage Black women to reclaim positive self-images about their bodies.

The following books, all by various authors, publishers and page counts, emphasize Black beauty from inside out.

“It’s Always Been Ours,” by eating disorder specialist Jessica Wilson (Go Hachette, $29.00), looks at the politics of Black women’s bodies. While you may know some of

the background, the true history of racism towards Black women, and the harm such negativity has done may still surprise you. Wilson also pulls in the works of novelists, friends, influencers, and others to get the best, most interesting look at the subject. If you want a call to action, this is it.

Along those lines, author Chrissy King says that body liberation is what Black women should strive for, and in “The Body Liberation Project” (Penguin Random House, $28.00), she also offers ways to achieve body freedom. What sets her book apart from the Wilson book is less history, more personal tales and thought-provoking question-pages to get readers thinking about how they’ve been thinking about their bodies. Again, there could be surprises in what you learn about yourself.

With these books, King and Wilson advocate for the individual as well as for all Black women and if it feels difficult to you

to pick between these two books, then don’t. Read them together or concurrently and you’ll be happier. But okay, you love your body. Your legs, your arms, your shoulders and hair and smile – so how do you keep all that gorgeousness healthy? You can start with “Black Women’s Wellness” by Melody T. McCloud, MD (Sounds True, $26.99) and learn. Indeed, even if you’re feeling well and looking great, this book explains how to keep yourself that way, starting with what looks healthy for a Black woman. From there, McCloud touches upon things like cancer, HIV, heart disease, and diabetes before moving on to reproductive health, sex, relationships, and mental health. It’s written in real language, and everything is in simple, easy-to-understand, authentic terms created for grown-ups.

Beware that “Black Women’s Wellness” isn’t a replacement for your doctor or clinic, but it’s a nice question-answerer and a good

launching point for knowing your body.

If these three books aren’t exactly what you’re looking for, be sure to ask your favorite librarian or bookseller. Admittedly, there aren’t a lot of modern, new books out there about body image for women of color, but a bookish person can help you find what you need. They’ll be able to put the book in your beautiful hands, your soft arms, for your gorgeous eyes.

There’s no app for that. WI

CONTINUED FROM PAGE HS-13

ple a lot, but when they go outside every day and there’s just like Chinese carry-outs and McDonald’s, even if you can provide that information, you lose it if you can’t use it.

It really comes down to just the mindsets in the households, the information that was passed down. How you witnessed your elders being able to eat, and your parents. Whether you have a mom that works every day and just can’t come home and cook, and if she just doesn’t know any better, or even if you do, just having access to be able to implement the things you learn.

I think the food culture in America genuinely does not revolve around being healthy, period. I think the ‘healthy food movement’ in America has become very capitalistic and gimmicky and unhealthy. There needs to be a wave of encouragement, to get people to even understand that it’s probably not your fault if you’re not eating healthy—and that you deserve to eat healthy.

KB: What are your top three tips for someone who says ‘I would like to get better about healthy cooking,’ either

for themselves or for their family?

LJ: I would say one, involve the whole family. Because the entire process of sitting down to plan a meal, going to the store to pick out the produce, taking it home, washing it, prepping it, cooking as a family, sitting down to eat—that’s a lot of time designated to something really positive and really healthy.

[Secondly], coming up with a few solid recipes that you just will take the time to get right, that you enjoy and you don’t mind eating a few times a week. People think that once you start eating healthy, it’s kind of limited, and in a way it may feel like that, especially if you’re trying to keep the cost low. Just making sure that you’re evolving the whole family, getting a few staple meals that you really just enjoy and can cook and prepare quality cooking you know quickly and easily [is important]. And also just kind of not being afraid to try new things. Your plate should just have a variety of colors. I try to get away from cans and stuff like that, just getting in the produce section, picking up new things. Buy new things that are seasonal and on sale.

Read the full interview on www. washingtoninformer.com. WI

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