https://enhanceblackwomenshealth.com/, https://ebwhcommunity.com/

Enhance Black Women’s Health, Watertown, MA (2025)

07/23/2025

These are just a few of the insights I've gained from the study; I share more in this week's Substack. tional.

I stumbled upon a 2025 Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics that recognized a lack of culturally relevant healthy eating resources for African-Caribbean communities in the UK. As a result, it was difficult for patients to make dietary changes because they struggled to fit the recommended recipes into their cultural context.

Therefore, the researchers partnered with African-Caribbean community members to:

➡️ Participate in cooking sessions where they can co-design the recipes.
➡️ Offer feedback on the culturally adapted recipes to know what needs adjustment.
➡️ Refine the recipes so that they increase nutritional quality without sacrificing flavor.

These are just a few of the takeaways I've taken from the study; however, I share more in this week's Substack.

Check it out and let me know what you think: https://www.ebwhcommunity.com/p/the-missing-ingredient-in-most-meal

07/19/2025

What are some books about health that you wish more people read? As a master health coach in training who's been learning more about cultural bias, medical racism, and size discrimination, I often recommend a few books that don't usually get the spotlight they deserve.

📚 Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Sabrina Strings, Ph.D
📚 Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine by Uché Blackstock, MD
📚 The Body Liberation Project: How Understanding Racism and Diet Culture Helps Cultivate Joy and Build Collective Freedom by Chrissy King
📚 Live Nourished: Make Peace with Food, Banish Body Shame, and Reclaim Joy By Shana Minei åçSpence
📚 American Detox: The Myth of Wellness and How We Can Truly Heal by Kerri Kelly

From Strings' illumination of the history of weight bias in society to Kelly's highlight of the toxic messaging in wellness culture, each author gave me a perspective on health that challenged many of my preconceived notions about health.

If you're looking for a health book to read this summer (or fall), I'd recommend adding one of these to your list: https://bookshop.org/shop/ebwh

07/18/2025

It's nothing like a car accident on your way home from vacation that makes you want to turn around and return to where you came from. 🤦🏽‍♀️

Although all I wanted to do as soon as I got home was grab a glass of wine, order some DoorDash, and watch some true crime to forget the actual crime that had just happened, I knew that numbing wouldn't go well.

Well, it would have helped temporarily, but not long-term.

I know that because I used to be great at numbing the pain and thought that I would never change. As I complete my Master Health Coaching certification, I'm reminded that change starts with our behaviors.

For me, some behaviors that have helped me when I'm under stress are:

✍🏽 Journaling
🎨 Coloring
🧘🏽‍♀️ Self-guided meditation

It's not an extensive list, but these things have been supportive when I need to numb my emotions.

What are some stress-relieving strategies that have worked for you?

07/16/2025

Are we really dealing with an obesity crisis, or is it more about our biases towards weight? I've been contemplating this question more as I continue my Master Health Coaching Certification studies.

Part of the reason I left health coaching four years ago was that I noticed healthcare providers tending to ascribe every health issue to weight.

Even before I was diagnosed with RA and Sjögren's, my GP, at the time, was convinced that all of my symptoms would magically disappear if I just lost weight.

She was wrong, and three years later, I was officially diagnosed with RA, Sjögren's, and later pericentral retinitis pigmentosa. None of these conditions can be "cured" by losing weight, yet that is the go-to recommendation from most healthcare providers.

The problem with the hyperfocus on weight as a cure-all is:

➡️ The belief that weight indicates health status ignores factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and socioeconomic status, which can significantly influence a person's health.

➡️ The weight stigma that clients in larger bodies face can contribute to their health concerns being dismissed or minimized.

➡️ Believing that individual choices solely determine weight overlooks that weight is not a behavior.

As I was writing this week's Substack, I couldn't help but consider that the myth that weight = health harms the health of our society's most vulnerable. Further, as federal policies continue to change, I can imagine that even more people won't get the care they need if we continue holding weight as the indicator of health.

🔗 Read more on Substack: https://www.ebwhcommunity.com/p/what-gets-missed-when-weight-takes

Let me know your thoughts below. I'm always open to hearing alternate perspectives if you're open to hearing mine.

07/12/2025

I'm halfway through the PN Level 2 Master Health Coaching Certification, which feels like a moment to celebrate.

Even though real G's move in silence:

✔️ I know it's just as important to honor the journey as much as the destination.
✔️ The person I was 10 weeks ago is not the person I am today - --> Thank God!
✔️ The person I will be 10 weeks from now, when I've completed this certification, will be drastically different.

As I sit back and enjoy my summer break from work, I know that walking away with that certification will make all the long hours and assignments worth the weeks of commitment.

Are you in class this summer? Let's have a party to celebrate when we're done!

07/11/2025

It's summer, it's hot, and my dog has decided again that cooking is not part of her job description.

As someone who lives alone, I've had to learn how to make cooking a tolerable (because I wouldn't go so far as to say enjoyable) experience.

This is especially true after a long day of work when the last thing I want to think about is 'what's for dinner' as the answer can easily become, what can I get delivered for under 30 minutes on DoorDash.

If you're in a summer meal planning funk, here are a few ideas for dinner this week:

➡️ Slow cooker meals: This requires planning, but I enjoy slow cooker meals because the prep is minimal. You throw (or nicely place) your ingredients in the pot, turn it on for 6-8 hours (in the morning or afternoon), and dinner is ready for the evening.

➡️ Instant pot meals: If you notice a theme here, you are right that I don't enjoy using multiple appliances for one meal. The great part about having a pressure cooker is that you don't have to plan too far ahead, as many recipes can be prepared within an hour.

➡️ Sheet-pan meals: I know it's summer and too hot to keep the oven on long. However, the simplicity of cooking everything on your sheet pan means it's a one-and-done experience. Everything fits on one sheet pan (unless you really need two), which makes cleanup a breeze.

Because I'm no Rachel Ray and cannot be trusted to ""eyeball"" anything, many recipes I find right on Pinterest. Generally, if you find one good recipe from a food blogger, it's worth saving the site for future searches, as the rest are likely equally good.

Speaking of, are there any recipes that you've found lately that are worth sharing? Let us know below!

07/09/2025

Like many on July 4th, I wondered how much "independence" I could celebrate, knowing that our government just announced the most significant rollback in federal support for healthcare in U.S. history.

It's a reality that hits me hard as the granddaughter of Medicare and Medicaid recipients and a recipient of the reduced lunch program during my adolescent years.

➡️ The programs that many have argued are being 'abused' were lifelines for me and my family.

➡️ The programs that are being decimated are what allowed me to have the nutrients that I needed to stay focused in class.

➡️ The programs that our leaders voted to defund helped my diabetic grandparents access the vital care that they needed.

Needless to say, I have a host of emotions, none of which are joy, knowing the negative impact this will have on the health and well-being of millions of Americans.

This week's Substack is my opportunity to offer the perspective that many of our leaders could have cared about before they voted for their interests ahead of those of the constituents that gave them the seats of power in the first place.

Read more here: https://www.ebwhcommunity.com/p/the-big-ugly-bill-and-the-bigger

I hope it provides those Americans who will be most negatively impacted with solutions to address their nutritional needs, as programs that once did are being defunded.

I also hope it reminds those who aren't impacted by these changes that when it's time for us to vote, we repay the 'favor' to our leaders.

07/05/2025

Are you in summer vacation mode? For Penny and me, this year's vacation, we are staying fairly local on Cape Cod.

Primarily in the Mashpee and North Truro area. If you have any suggestions for dog-friendly:

🐾 Restaurants
🐾 Beaches, or
🐾 Activities

Send it my way!

07/03/2025

My path towards health and wellness began with my own disordered eating behaviors when I served in the Marine Corps. Needless to say, I wasn't surprised by this recent article in Social Science & Medicine, about male eating disorders (MED) being a public health issue that's going unnoticed.

While I was overly preoccupied with losing weight in the Corps, many men I served with were fixated on building muscle. Based on the research, that experience is far from uncommon.

➡️ The increased focus on aesthetics has made men emphasize maintaining a muscular physique.

➡️ Due to the increased desire to achieve an 'ideal body', there has been a greater consumption of performance and image-enhancing drugs.

➡️ Because eating disorders are often not viewed as a 'men's issue,' being admitted into an inpatient facility can prove difficult for some men.

Therefore, the article argues that health care delivery for MED could greatly benefit from a different diagnostic standard. In my opinion, that same argument can extend to demographics that are often underdiagnosed with EDs.

You can access the article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118250

At the end of the day, MED is a public health issue that shouldn't continue to be ignored. What steps do you think can be taken to address this issue in our communities?

07/02/2025

I've avoided joining the commentary on GLP-1s until a recent discussion on how GLP-1s are contributing to a decrease in grocery store and supermarket spending had me raising my eyebrows.

While I agree with my colleagues that GLP-1 adoption is changing food demand, I’m skeptical that the demand to ‘eat less’ will improve health in the long term.

➡️ For one, as I complete my Master Health Coaching Certification program, I'm reminded that the general population still lacks health literacy.

➡️ Research shows that most people receive their health information online, which we know can be full of misinformation, especially regarding nutrition.

➡️ Because GLP-1s suppress appetite, they can contribute to people becoming nutrient deficient if they're not mindful of their overall nutrient intake.

For these reasons, the growing adoption of GLP-1s might not translate to long-term improvements in health outcomes without a balanced approach to nutrition.

I discuss that in this week's Substack on GLP-1s, Health Equity, and the Problem with “Eating Less”. Check it out and let me know what you think: https://www.ebwhcommunity.com/p/glp-1s-health-equity-and-the-problem

06/28/2025

I’ve set a goal to read a book a month, for no other reason than I've about 43 books on my bookcase that I’ve bought but haven't read.

It’s not that I haven’t read plenty of books over the years.

✔️ Many of my friends, family, and mentors continue to write books.
✔️ I continue to buy these books.
✔️ Yet, I end up reading only a few of these books.

It’s not that they aren’t good, I’m just one of those people who has been collecting more books than I’m actually reading.

📚 Now that my bookcase is close to reaching its max, it’s time to move the unread to the read pile.

Which book is on your to-read list?

Don’t worry, I will aim not to buy any more books, but I make no promises. 😉

06/27/2025

Are 58% of the population really getting their health information from WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok?

I am left to wonder after reading a 2025 Public Health Nursing study, whether our public health education is keeping pace with the realities of the internet, specifically social media.

If we assume that the general population is like me, searching PubMed for fun, they're sadly mistaken. 👎🏾

Instead, many are going to what’s most convenient to access, and sadly, to whom is most convincing to listen to.

That’s why a few suggestions I have when you’re deciding whether to trust health advice you see online are:

#1: Are They Citing Their Sources?

When someone makes a health claim, a question to ask yourself is whether they are backing it up with research. If it’s based solely on their personal experience, it’s not that it’s illegitimate; it's just that it might not be applicable beyond themselves.

#2: Are They Getting Paid for This Endorsement?

I believe creators should be compensated for their work. However, there’s a significant difference between sharing something because it genuinely works and promoting a product solely for the paycheck.

#3: Are They Promoting Health Literacy?

If they’re helping you build your health literacy and not just selling you another supplement, it’s a great sign that they’re worth listening to. Not because selling is bad - it’s not - but regardless of whether you buy a thing, you’re still walking away more informed than you were.

In essence, I recommend that you review the study, as it offers some insightful considerations. If you don’t have university access, you might be able to get access through your local library. 🔗 https://doi-org.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/10.1111/phn.13554

All in all, we aren’t getting rid of social media; however, we can find ways to ensure that we’re using it to disseminate reliable health information.

Are there any social media accounts you recommend for health information? Let us know below.

Enhance Black Women’s Health

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