Hey there! Happy Thursday to you and yours! It’s your favorite plant-based advocate, LA Dunn just stopping by to see how you are doing as you navigate the world of plant-based foods.
Why Am I Getting This Newsletter?
I have arrived in your inbox because you either signed up on mail chimp or at the Black Girls Eat Website or somewhere else on social media. I’m so grateful that you did and I hope that you have been enjoying each issue of Recipes & Random-Ish. I crack myself up every time I think about the name of the newsletter.
The truth is, you will always get a recipe from me but I just can’t contain myself to food! I want you to get to know me better. I feel like if I share all of me then my journey into the world of plant-based nutrition might make more sense to you. And then you will see that we have a lot in common.
My decision to launch Black Girls Eat came directly out of my own very scary health experiences that led me to start remixing my plate. Many of you may know that I credit NYC Rheumatologist, Dr. Maggie Cadet with helping me figure out what was going on with the aches and pains in my body. After meeting her, I became focused on using food and nutrition as a weapon against inflammation, diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
So Who’s The Guy in the Photo?
The guy in the photo above is Dr. Ami from Manhattan Cardiology. When I was growing up, the only people who saw cardiologists were people who were already sick. We had the regular check ups for school and camp along with our visits to the dentist but that was it!
I started visiting Dr. Ami once I began taking a look at my overall health. He and I talked extensively about plant-based nutrition. There is so much research that proves that a diet rich in plants, fruits and grains can be a game changer for so many people. I chose to be a plant-based advocate to help my community navigate nutrition, demystify the myths and have some fun. We cannot detox the fun out of eating!
Although I was not presenting any heart issues, Dr. Ami suggested that I go in for a Coronary Artery Calcium Test. The test score would let me know if I was at risk for an incident like a stroke or a heart attack.
Sounds scary right? I know but I had to be a big girl and do it. It took about 10 minutes for the machine to scan my heart. They were looking for calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. I am not a smoker and I don’t have diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. I’m thrilled about that. But I wasn’t thrilled about something possibly silently and secretly happening to my heart.
The Results?
First let me share that hardly anyone I knew was aware of this exam. I also want to share that my insurance company did not cover the fee. So I paid $126 to have it done. That’s problematic for me because this is a preventative screening that could save a life and it’s not widely promoted and not easily accessible if you can’t afford to pay the out of pocket fee.
The calcium score can range from zero to over 400. The higher the score, the more you may be at risk. I’m pleased to share with you that I scored—-Zero.
Whew! And yes, I was crying. Tears of Joy. I was so happy. Dr. Ami encouraged me to continue eating plenty of fruits, veggies and grains. I committed to doing that and I re-committed to being active and maintaining a positive mindset.
The Recipe: Peach and Tomato Bruschetta
The East Coast has been getting a sneak peak of summer this week and nothing says summer like peaches and tomatoes. This snack is easy to make and even easier to eat! Kid friendly and contains not one single animal product. Try it for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
The Random: Make Believe Seafood???
I just read that Aqua Cultured Foods plans to launch vegan calamari, shrimp, scallops, and filets of tuna and whitefish this year. The products will be made with Mycelium. Mycelium is found in the root systems of mushrooms. It naturally grows in a structure similar to the muscle tissue of seafood and is soft in flavor. (Source: Vegan News)
Are you excited about this?
Thanks so much for hanging out with me! Visit the Black Girls Eat Website for easy plant-based recipes and helpful tips. Follow me on Instagram and Tik-Tok as well.
It's My Heart And I'll Cry If I Wanna
I have mixed feelings about vegan seafood, meats, etc. I even have my meat eating friends make fun of me. “Why don’t you just eat a real crabcake or meatballs? If You don’t like meat why are you trying to make your vegan food taste like meat? I do like that barbecue flavor, but let me tell you something barbecue jackfruit taste better than pulled pork and it’s pretty much guilt free. Most mushrooms seem to give me the texture that I need for my “meat flavoring” and I’d rather make my own meat substitute than buy at the store. I Try to stay away from processed foods as much as possible.