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Health and Wellness

Rapper Common reveals how Brooklyn’s black queens and faith influenced his wellness journey

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The generation that supported hip-hop culture’s journey from the inner-city underground to the worldwide mainstream is now middle-aged. It survived the tragic premature death of many rappers the likes of Biz Markie, Trugoy, Black Rob and more, who were the topic of an article within the New York Times Magazine last summer. On the opposite hand, Men’s Health magazine recently praised hip-hop artists who’re thriving – not only surviving – with a canopy of physically fit rappers including Ludacris, Wiz Khalifa, 50 Cent, Method Man, Busta Rhymes and Chicago’s native son, Common. As hip-hop ages, people of their 40s and 50s are making wellness their No. 1 priority in life, which is the central theme of Common’s latest book, “And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self.”

A practical guide to self-care through food, body, mind and soul, Common’s third book arrives just in time for people trying to pick themselves up because they’re already dragging their feet on 2024 resolutions. In the week of its release, Common stood stage at Newark Symphony Hall and signed autographs for an extended line of devoted fans of the venue’s regular Living Out Loud literary series. The event, the kickoff to the book tour, also hosted black sororities and sororities — lots of whom wore Greek letter sweaters and varsity jackets — while Grammy-winning hits like “Southside” and “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop)” resounded across the room.

Shared signs copies of his latest book, “And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self,” on January 25, 2024, at Newark Symphony Hall in New Jersey. In the book, Common discusses how rap influenced his thoughts on nutrition as a youngster. (Photo courtesy of Don Sherrill)

You first moved to Brooklyn within the late Nineties when the holistic health pioneer developed Heal Yourself for Health and Longevity Queen Afua influenced the local conscious community. How has this book influenced your health journey?

When I first moved to Brooklyn, it was stuffed with really conscious individuals who were conscious and artists. These artists included Erykah Badu, (designer) Ashaka Gives and (jeweler) Lorraine West. All of those women were powerful and talented. Queen Afua was like a pacesetter and inspiration to Erykah – just someone who helped shed light; they shared lots of information. This group of ladies really gained lots of information from the book “Heal Yourself.” I actually just learned from them. This is how I met Queen Afua, was in a position to meet her and be in her company.

It was really eye-opening for me because they were really adamant and disciplined in loving themselves. It was visible of their actions. It was visible of their skin. This was evident in the way in which they talked to one another and to me, and it became an awesome catalyst for me to know the facility I had.

Before I got here to New York, I probably only ate fish. Within a number of weeks, I became a vegetarian since it was just a lot access (to vegetarian food). It was 1998. There was a juice bar on Fulton Street. There was the Brooklyn Moon (cafe). It was a spot where black women and men were exalted. And there was a brand new awareness that was shared, that I used to be not introduced to, but that I sought.

Alicia Keys, Diddy and Angie Martinez ran the New York City Marathon. Is this your goal?

I actually have great respect for individuals who run long distances. This is a high level of discipline and commitment. At one point I managed to run a number of kilometers. But I never promised myself that I desired to run a marathon. My cardio workouts are more like playing basketball and moving around. I all the time say that it is important to seek out things that suit you and that you just enjoy, knowing that you’ll have the option to commit to it even should you get tired of it. When I saw Alicia Keys run a marathon, I assumed, “Man, you have a completely different attitude.” I actually have this attitude where I feel like I can do anything. But at that time I had no passion for running.

Does yoga practice fit into your wellness routine?

Widespread, popular book, And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Caring for Yourself, theGrio.com
(Left to right) Sportscaster Curt Menefee and Common discuss the rapper’s latest book, “And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self” on January 25, 2024, “Living Out Loud: A Night with Common” at Newark Symphony Hall in New Jersey. (Photo courtesy of Don Sherrill)

Yoga is something I actually enjoy, truthfully. I began going to yoga because a friend of mine from acting class said, “Hey, you have to go.” I used to be going through lots. She said, “Go to yoga with me.” I went and boy did I set free lots. I learned recent things about myself during yoga classes and I actually appreciated it. I’m not afraid to try various things, so I suggest this for somebody who wants to counterpoint their life and learn something that could be helpful to them, focused on them and still has a physical element. I do know yoga is a complete different level. But I actually liked going to yoga and I still need to do it. I need to support the various black yogis across the country.

You mention within the book how rap verses influenced your views on nutrition as a youngster. Did the Five-Percent Nation rappers influence your spirituality in the course of the same period?

Growing up in Chicago and attending a church that was non-denominational, our pastor is a revolutionary. His name is Reverend Jeremiah Wright and the church I attended was Trinity (Christ) United Church. When you walk in, it says “Unapologetically Black, Unashamedly Christian.” So I had no problem in search of Christianity within the Bible. What I liked about church and the pursuit of spirituality was that we were welcoming. For example, Farrakhan has spoken at our church before.

Hearing Brand Nubian, Poor Righteous Teachers, and Rakim talk in regards to the Five Percent Nation, calling themselves gods and lands, made me start in search of more. My father named me Rashid. At one point I also had to look and find every thing I could within the Quran. Because my father did it for a reason. I felt I could learn lots from this. And I still apply what I learned from the gods to this present day. It is an acknowledgment of the God who exists in each of us. I feel that is something we would have liked. I feel it played a key role in me becoming a stronger and greater person.

Featured Stories

What are your aspirations for Broadway? You have already got an Emmy, a Grammy and an Oscar. You’re only one Tony away from EGOT.

Last yr I played on Broadway. I used to be in a play called “Between Riverside and Crazy” written by Stephen Adly Guirgis, writer of “Jesus Hopped on the A Train” and “Motherf-r with the Hat.” He’s an incredible playwright from New York. And I played with probably the greatest casts I could ever play with. It was an incredible experience, and I intended to perform much more on Broadway. But within the meantime, I’m producing “The Wiz,” which will probably be on Broadway this spring, and we’re very enthusiastic about it. It will probably be amazing. It debuts in April.


Miles Marshall Lewis (@MMLunlimited) is a Harlem-based author and cultural critic whose work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, GQ, Rolling Stone, and many other magazines. Lewis is currently completing a cultural biography of comedian Dave Chappelle, the sequel to Promise That You Will Sing About Me: The Power and Poetry of Kendrick Lamar.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Health and Wellness

Recipe for change: eliminating health disparities and economic empowerment – the essence

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Throughout the 12 months, the Global Black Economic Forum held quite a few select conversations focused on solutions to the most pressing economic and social issues facing marginalized communities. One of those issues – too often missed – is the link between Black health and wealth. If we do not start eliminating health disparities and inequalities today, we cannot give you the chance to construct wealth for the future.

This intersection was the focus of an event we hosted in August as a part of our cooking talk series. It was held on Martha’s Vineyard, round the corner National Medical Scholarships (NMF), the Black World Economic Forum had the opportunity to satisfy with NMF’s unapologetic leader, Michellene Davis. Recognized by Modern Healthcare magazine as certainly one of the 25 most influential minority leaders in healthcare, Michellene’s profession has involved policy advocacy and social change.

Her organization is devoted to increasing the variety of Black, Indigenous and physicians of color through fellowships, service-learning programs, mentoring opportunities and clinical research leadership training.

The conversation revealed two easy and interconnected data points: In the next decade, the United States will experience:huge shortage of doctors while becoming a majority non-white nation. These two trends highlight the need for greater diversity on this field. Studies have shown that patients of color see racially and ethnically diverse physicians. Treatment results are frequently higher.

However, the percentage of black doctors in the US is growing at an alarmingly slow rate – it has only increased by 4% over the last 120 years.. In the face of conservatives’ regressive and destructive attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, there has never been a greater need for us to redouble these efforts. The more we are able to improve health outcomes, the higher we’ll give you the chance to seize and compete for economic opportunities in the future. Given the urgent need to deal with health care workforce disparities and their direct impact on Black economic outcomes, it’s equally essential to acknowledge the broader economic opportunities that may drive wealth creation in our communities.

The competition for certainly one of the best economic opportunities in the history of tourism and hospitality – the 2026 FIFA World Cup – was the focus of our other curated conversation. Organized round the corner East Point Congress and Visitors Bureau, we sat down with its president, Chantel Francois. In her position, she is responsible for the development of the tourism industry in the city of East Point, Georgia. Previously, she led economic development and tourism promotion efforts in Atlanta, Trinidad and Tobago.

Francois described how local businesses run by entrepreneurs of color can leverage global events like the FIFA World Cup to extend their brand visibility, increase sales, and even start their very own businesses. She emphasized the importance of partnerships with event organizers, teams and athletes in constructing company awareness. This cooperation can also be crucial as the city government works with many stakeholders to make sure the safety of tourists and maximum economic opportunities for the area people.

When it involves such major events, it is usually essential to instill a way of community pride in each sector wherein an organization competes. This pride translates into a robust bond with travelers that may make them proceed to interact with small businesses or spark curiosity in them to learn more about the community. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has the potential to place tens of millions of dollars into the pockets and communities of individuals of color, and it’s crucial for businesses to begin planning now in the event that they have not already.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

Phenergan for children under 6 years of age is currently banned due to fear of hallucinations. Here’s what you can use instead

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The Australian Drugs Regulatory Authority has issued an order safety warning over Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine promethazine.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has stated that over-the-counter products mustn’t be given to children under six years of age due to concerns about serious unwanted effects similar to hyperactivity, aggression and hallucinations. Breathing may additionally change into slow or shallow, which can be fatal.

When high doses are administered to young children, difficulties in learning and understanding, including reversible cognitive deficit and mental disability, may additionally occur. – said the TGA.

The latest warning follows international and Australian concerns concerning the drug in young children, which is commonly used to treat conditions similar to hay fever and allergies, motion sickness and for short-term sedative effects.

What is promethazine?

Promethazine is a “first generation” antihistamine that has been sold over-the-counter in Australian pharmacies for a long time for a spread of conditions.

Unlike many other drugs, first-generation antihistamines can cross the blood-brain barrier. This means they affect your brain chemistry, making you feel drowsy and sedated.

In adults, this will likely be useful for sleep. However, in children, these drugs can cause serious unwanted effects on the nervous system, including those mentioned on this week’s safety alert.

We’ve known about this for a while

We have known concerning the serious unwanted effects of promethazine in young children for a while.

Advice regarding 20 years ago In the United States, the drug was not beneficial for use in children under two years of age. In 2022, an Australian Medicines Advisory Committee made its own suggestion to increase the age to six. New Zealand released similar warnings and advice in May this yr.

Over the last ten years, 235 cases of serious unwanted effects from promethazine have been reported in each children and adults reported to the TGA. Of the 77 deaths reported, one was a toddler under six years of age.

Reported unwanted effects in each adults and children included:

  • 13 cases of accidental overdose (leading to 11 deaths)
  • eight cases of hallucinations
  • seven cases of slow or shallow respiration (leading to 4 deaths)
  • six cases of decreased consciousness (leading to five deaths).

TGA security alert comes after an internal investigation by the manufacturer of Phenergan, Sanofi-Aventis Healthcare. This investigation was initiated in 2022 advice from the Medicines Advisory Committee. The company has now updated its information for consumers and healthcare professionals.

What can you use instead?

If you have allergies or hay fever in young children, non-sedating antihistamines similar to Claratine (loratadine) or Zyrtec (cetirizine) are preferred. They provide relief without the chance of sedation and other disturbing unwanted effects of promethazine.

If symptoms of a chilly or cough occur, parents must be reassured that these symptoms will normally subside with time, fluid intake, and rest.

Saline nasal sprays, adequate hydration, a humidifier or elevating the kid’s head can relieve the congestion related to hay fever. Oral products containing phenylephrine marketed for nasal congestion must be avoided because evidence shows that this is the case This article was originally published on : theconversation.com

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Health and Wellness

7 things you can do if you think you’re sweating too much

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Sweating is a way for the body to chill down, a bit like an internal air conditioner.

When your body temperature rises (since it’s hot outside or you exercise), sweat glands throughout your skin secrete a watery fluid. When the liquid evaporates, it takes heat with it, protecting us from overheating.

But sweating can vary from individual to individual. Some people could get a bit of dew under their arms, others may feel like they may fill a swimming pool (perhaps not as dramatically, but you get the thought).

So what’s a traditional amount of sweat? And what’s too much?

Why do some people sweat greater than others?

How much you sweat depends upon many aspects aspects including:

The average person sweats at a rate of approx 300 milliliters per hour (at a temperature of 30°C and humidity of roughly 40%). However, because you can’t measure the quantity of your individual sweat (or weigh it), doctors use a unique measure to evaluate the impact of sweating.

They ask if sweating interferes with on a regular basis life. Maybe you stop wearing certain clothes due to sweat stains or you feel embarrassed, so you don’t go to social events or work.

If so, it’s a so-called disease state excessive sweatingwhat affects tens of millions of individuals everywhere in the world.

As you might expect, people affected by this condition most frequently report problematic underarm sweating. However, sweaty hands, feet, scalp and groin might also be an issue.

Excessive sweating could also be a symptom of one other disease, e.g hyperthyroidism, fever or menopause.

But excessive sweating cannot have an obvious cause, and the causes of this so-called primary hyperhidrosis are somewhat mysterious. People have a traditional variety of sweat glands, but scientists consider they simply produce excessive amounts of sweat when exposed to triggers reminiscent of stress, heat, exercise, tobacco, alcohol and spicy spices. There might also be a genetic link.

Okay, I’m sweating loads. What can I do?

1. Antiperspirants

Antiperspirants, especially those with aluminumThey are the primary line of defense and have been designed to scale back sweating. Deodorants only stop unpleasant body odor.

Aluminum chloride, hexahydrate, aluminum chloride or weaker tetrachlorohydrex aluminum and zirconium glycinate they react with sweat gland proteins to form a plug. This plug temporarily blocks the sweat ducts, limiting the quantity of sweat reaching the skin’s surface.

These products may contain as much as 25% aluminum. The higher the proportion, the higher these products work, however the more they irritate the skin.

Make sure you buy antiperspirant, not deodorant.
Okrasiuka/Shutterstock

2. Beat the warmth

This could seem obvious, but staying calm can make an enormous difference. This is because you have less heat to lose, which causes your body to provide less sweat.

Avoid highly regarded and long showers (you’ll have more heat to lose), wear loose clothing fabricated from breathable fabrics reminiscent of cotton (this can help sweat evaporate more easily), and carry a small hand-held fan to assist your sweat evaporate.

When exercising, try it ice bandanas (ice wrapped in a shawl or cloth after which applied to the body) or wet towels. They can be worn across the neck, head or wrists to lower body temperature.

Also try to switch when or where you exercise; If possible, try to seek out cool shade or air-conditioned places.

If your sweating remains to be affecting your life after taking the primary two steps, consult with your doctor. They will help you find the most effective strategy to cope with this problem.

3. Medicines

Some medicines may help regulate sweating. Unfortunately, a few of them can also cause uncomfortable side effects reminiscent of dry mouth, blurred vision, abdominal pain or constipation. So consult with your doctor about what’s best for you.

Your GP might also refer you to a dermatologist – a health care provider like me who makes a speciality of skin conditions – who can recommend a wide range of treatments, including among the following.

4. Botulinum toxin injections

Botulinum toxin injections usually are not used solely for cosmetic reasons. They have many applications in medicine, including: they block the nerves that control the sweat glands. They do this for months.

The dermatologist normally gives injections. But they’re only subsidized by Medical care in Australia under the arms and if you suffer from primary hyperhidrosis that can not be controlled with the strongest antiperspirants. These injections are given as much as thrice a yr. It just isn’t subsidized within the case of other diseases, e.g. hyperthyroidism or other areas, e.g. face or hands.

If you don’t qualify, you can get these shots privately, but it would cost you a whole bunch of dollars for treatment that can last as long as six months.

A healthcare worker giving a man a Botox injection under his arm
In some cases, injections can be found under Medicare.
Satyrenko/Shutterstock

5. Iontophoresis

This involves using a tool that passes a weak electric current through water to the skin decreased sweating in your hands, feet or armpits. Scientists aren’t sure how exactly it really works.

But it’s the one way to manage sweating within the hands and feet, which doesn’t require drugs, surgery or botulinum toxin injections.

This treatment just isn’t subsidized by Medicare and never all dermatologists provide it. However, you can buy your individual device and use it, which is frequently cheaper than using it privately. You can ask your dermatologist if that is the proper option for you.

6. Surgery

There is a procedure where the nerves within the hands are cut, which prevents them from sweating. This is very effective however it may cause sweating somewhere else.

There are also other surgical options that you can talk to your doctor.

7. Microwave therapy

This is newer treatment which stimulates the sweat glands to destroy them in order that they can now not work. This just isn’t quite common yet and is kind of painful. It is out there privately in several centers.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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