Rhonda Peters' Blog

Aside from learning how to cook Southern fried chicken and Pound Cake made with a pound of butter, there are some life lessons that we can learn from Paula Deen, who after three years of secrecy announced that she was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

Lesson 1: We Are Not Immune. Paula Deen has been a successful restaurateur and TV personality on the Food Network for many years, and despite having access to the best of everything, her position, title, and influence could not prevent her from having diabetes.

Lesson 2: There is No Substitute for Cooking Healthy Whole Foods. Simply put, if we continue to cook unhealthy, it will lead to a number of harmful, sometimes deadly diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Through the years, we watched Paula in the kitchen cooking beautiful meals that made us all salivate. As we attentively watched her every move and talked back with her, as if we were sitting in the kitchen as her guest, she made each ingredient sound so delicious and good that the thought of whether it was good for our body, never entered our minds, and I guess Paula's either!

Lesson 3: We Are Responsible for What Happens to Us. We all have our favorite actors, athletes, and celebrity chefs that we follow, and from time to time we may follow their advice without even thinking if it's right or wrong. Marketers know this, which is why they look for celebrities to endorse their products that will appeal to us--like Academy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson endorsing Weight Watchers, LA Lakers Basketball Player Kobe Bryant endorsing Nike, and Paula Deen endorsing Smithfield (a pork company). Some of the most popular, successful people endorse a plethora of products, but in the end, we MUST be the captain of our own ship and make decisions that aren't detrimental to our bodies!

Lesson 4: Stop Making Excuses. When Paula was asked if she got Type 2 Diabetes from her style of cooking, she didn't say yes or no, but instead she fell back on the excuse that it was hereditary because it runs in her family. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that excuse, I would be a millionaire right now! Yes, there are some cases where we must not ignore family genes. However, when it comes to Type 2 Diabetes, it is preventable by eating healthier and exercising. So, if that has been your excuse, stop it!

So, enough about Paula Deen and her business decision to use her diabetes secret to create a new line up of TV shows, cookbooks and other products. Let's spend our energy on taking an inventory of what we eat and making the necessary adjustments (even if it means getting rid of unhealthy cookbooks) in order to make a lifestyle change and prevent diseases like diabetes.

It's the New Year and you know what that means....you guessed it...a whole new batch of celebrities claiming that they've used the popular weight loss franchises to aid in their weight loss. If you don't know what I'm referring to, think Janet Jackson endorsing Nurtrisystem , Mariah Carey endorsing Jenny Craig and Charles Barkley endorsing Weight Watchers for men. Now, I'm not saying that these celebrities did not honestly utilize these companies to aid in their mega weight losses, but we all know that celebrities are known to stretch the truth especially when it comes to weight loss and youthful appearances. So, if one of your favorite celebrities' sudden weight loss has motivated you to shed a few pounds for the New Year, I applaud you in your effort. To assist you in accomplishing your goal of losing weight, I would also suggest that you add the resolution "eat healthier" to ensure that your weight loss is not temporary. Here are few tips to get you started on your weight loss journey:

1. Toss out the sodas and sugary drinks in exchange for a glass or bottle of water
2. Get off the sofa and get moving, even if it's a stroll around your block
3. Just say "no" to the salt shaker and fried foods
4. Be mindful of your portion size

If you need recipes for healthy, tasty meals, check out my cookbook, "So, What Can I Eat Now?!" it's currently available on Amazon for $10! You'll find recipes for mustard greens, oven fried chicken, red beans and rice, pot roast w/brown rice, pesto and more! Click this link to order a copy today http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615285937.

A new study published in the Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics, reported that there is a potential link between second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) drugs and diabetes in children (source: Pediatrics online). The study was performed with children between the ages 5 - 18 who started SGA treatment between January 2001 and December 2008. Though the study was will need further analysis in the future for more conclusive data, it was indeed thought provoking. The following are questions that parents or legal guardians should know.

What are second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) drugs?
Second-generation antipsychotic drugs were developed in the past decade for the treatment of severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and mania. Over the years these SGAs have also been used to treat people with autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Some examples of these drugs are as follows (source: Psychatlanta.com):

Abilify (aripiprazole), Clozaril (clozapine), Geodon (ziprasidone), Risperdal and Risperdal Consta (risperidone), Seroquel (quetiapine), Symbyax (Zyprexa [olanzapine] and Prozac [fluoxetine] combination), Zyprexa and Zyprexa Zydis (olanzapine)

How many children are prescribed SGAs?
SGAs used by children increased by 65 percent from 2002 to 2009 mainly from prescriptions written for teenagers. 15% of antipsychotic use in the United States among non-institutionalized (not committed to a hospital/institution) patients is in children and almost 25% of Medicaid antipsychotic users are children. (source: Medscape Medical News)

What is the risk to children on SGAs and diabetes vs. those not using SGAs?
Children on antipsychotics had four times the risk of diabetes than those not taking any psychiatric medication, with a rate of about three cases per 1,000 children per year, compared to just under 0.8 cases per 1,000 among other children. (source: ThirdAge.com)

Why does SGAs lead to diabetes in children?
Currently it is still unknown why antipsychotic drugs lead to diabetes in children. However it has been said that they could trigger weight gain, but according to Dr. Jonathan Mink, Chief of Child Neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, "it's hard to argue that it's just weight gain." (source: Reuters Health)

Are there any special foods that could help children avoid this risk?
This study did not report on natural alternatives to using SGAs, however there have been other studies that have reported that children who suffer from autism or ADHD, are less likely to need SGAs if they eat a gluten-free, casein-free diet. That's a diet that includes, no dairy or dairy based products or wheat products. Also, this same diet would be beneficial to children who may be diagnosed with diabetes.

We cannot afford not to make a food lifestyle change. Yes, I know, it's easier said than done, especially in this struggling economy, with people experiencing financial challenges and facing new realities such as no jobs or not being able to work due to poor health, which could lead to no health insurance means and lack of proper medical treatment. Unfortunately this is becoming more of the norm for many African American families. In fact according to the most recent numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, African Americans in comparison to Caucasians, still have the highest unemployment rate.

So, now is not the time to gamble with our lives just so we can continue to eat whatever we want and "die happy" as some would say. In fact, eating whatever we desire has dire consequences that not only impact us, but also generations to follow. Cardiovascular Disease, diabetes, food allergies, thyroid disease, etc. are some of the many health issues that can be inherited either through genes or through training or habits--let's face it, in most cases, we eat what we eat because that's what momma fed us as children. The cycle continues to evolve and grow with each birth unless someone chooses to stop the cycle! Will that be you?

At the end of this article, my hope is that you will take a moment to stop and assess what you eat on a daily basis. If it is made up of more fast food items, meals in boxes or cans, then please consider making a change; one that involves whole foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Make a promise to yourself, that you will stop generations of unhealthy eating and add years to your life so that you can be an inspiration to your family!

If you're ready to make a change, leave a comment on what your plans will be.

When Venus Williams, the world renowned tennis star, recently announced that symptoms stemming from her battle with Sjogren's Syndrome were forcing her to withdraw from the U.S. Open Tennis Championship, it caused me to reflect back on my own battle with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Sjoren's Syndrome both belong to a group of diseases collectively known as autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases arise from an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. In other words, the body actually attacks its own cells.

Like most autoimmune diseases, side effects of both RA and Sjogren's Syndrome can include swollen, stiff joints. As a matter of fact, it was Venus' complaints of swollen, painful joints and her inability to be as mobile as necessary which prompted her to withdraw from the tennis competition. When I heard the news about Venus, I thought about my own painful memories of the disease. Remembering the times when I could not get out of bed, place my swollen feet in my shoes or button my blouse makes me truly empathize with Venus' struggles. Unfortunately, there's not a cure for either disease, so traditional medicine focuses on symptom management. The "gold standard" of treatment for these types of diseases usually includes steroids and anti-inflammants.

When I was diagnosed with RA, these were the types of drugs prescribed for me. Unfortunately, the medications did not work and I found that my symptoms became increasingly worse. I was at a breaking point and I knew that I could no longer live like that. It was at that point that I began researching alternatives. My research led me to discover the medicinal properties of fruits, vegetables, spices and herbs. Shockingly, I also discovered that certain foods, ones that were considered "healthy", caused more harm to people with autoimmune diseases than other foods. These foods, for whatever reason, triggered inflammatory responses in the body when consumed. One of the core problems when dealing with RA, Sjogren's Syndrome and all of the other autoimmune diseases is the problem of inflammation. Over time the prolonged inflammation caused by these diseases contributes to organ damage. In terms of symptoms, it manifests as painful, swollen joints.

After discovering this, I began the painstaking process of removing "inflammation causing" foods from my diet. Foods like coffee, dairy, soy, eggs, wheat (gluten), corn, chicken, turkey, pork, tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants! With this long list, I was frustrated and screamed out, "So, what can I eat now?!" It was indeed a journey and a lifestyle change, especially for a Louisiana girl who grew up on butter, sugar and fried foods! However despite the food lifestyle makeover, I felt better almost instantly. After only being on this new diet for about two weeks, the pain and swollen joints were gone and I could grip my toothbrush in the morning without being in pain! I used those foods that I ate, to create recipes that I ultimately included in my cookbook called "So, What Can I Eat Now?!"

So, though Venus may be challenged with this syndrome that causes swollen, stiff joints, there is hope for her or even you if you suffer from the same or similar issues. Take it from me, I have been medication free since 2005 and have NOT had joint pain since I started eating healthier and changing the foods that I ate!

I challenge those of you with arthritic conditions, lupus, Sjogren's Syndrome, fibromyalgia, etc. to have a food lifestyle makeover and stop eating those foods that trigger inflammation for two months and watch what happens. Are you up for the challenge? If you have questions, please post a comment.

A food allergy can occur in both children and adults of all ages and races. In fact, research shows that over 12 million Americans suffer with food allergies--2 to 4% are adults and 6 to 8% are children.^1,2 What's even more alarming is that of those 960,000 children with food allergies, African American boys are more than FOUR times likely to have moderate to severe food allergies in comparison to other races of children!³ Even worse than this statistic is the nightmare that parents have to deal with as they attempt to read food labels and decipher which foods are safe and which ingredients are derivatives of their child's allergen. FDA officials have even stated that the current warning labels "may not be protecting the health of allergic consumers." In a sense, African American parents are often playing a game of Russian roulette when they purchase ANY prepackaged food or beverage for their children.

In my opinion, reading food labels requires a chemistry degree because the ingredients that are in the foods are just ridiculous! So, for a parent who isn't knowledgeable nor has access to the internet or time to even research the ingredients, the child can be at a life-threatening risk.

What is a Food Allergy?
Food allergies develop when the body's immune system reacts to certain foods that are harmless. When this reaction occurs, the body produces antibodies to the food and releases various chemicals in the body, which triggers allergic reactions such as hives, nausea, swelling, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, etc.^4,5

What is a Food Intolerance?
Food intolerances, unlike food allergies, do not involve the immune system; instead it is a food reaction in the digestive system.

What foods can cause an allergy?
There are many foods that could cause an allergic reaction, but only 8 of them account for over 90% of all food allergies.^1,2 These foods are dairy, soy, eggs, wheat, fish, shellfish, peanuts and tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, etc.).

Can a person die from a food allergy?
According to the Center for Disease Control each year hundreds die from food allergies (about 150 deaths annually). Also, over 30,000 people receive life-saving treatment in emergency rooms due to food induced anaphylaxis (a serious allergic reaction).⁵

Is there a cure for food allergies?
Unfortunately, today there is no medicine to cure people with food allergies. The best prescription that many doctors give is for the person to avoid all food that they are allergic to. Some sources state that people can grow out of their allergies; however this is not always true for everyone.

How can I tell if my child or I have a food allergy?
You cannot look at someone to determine if he or she has a food allergy. Besides a person breaking out in immediate hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, etc., the first thing to do is to see your health care provider for consultation. He/she may require that you do a food allergy panel test either via saliva, finger prick or some other form of testing.

So, what's my story? I was diagnosed with food intolerances to casein (protein found in milk), eggs, soy, yeast, whey, and sesame at the age of thirty-two. Once I found out about my intolerances, I learned that many of these foods also triggered arthritic inflammation in my body. Consequently, I have completely removed all of these foods from my diet, and yes I can tell the difference in how I feel--much better and medication free!

¹"Healthy Youth! Food Allergies." CDC. June 11, 2008 .
²"Food Allergy Information." Food Allergy Initiative. June 11, 2008 .
³"African American boys at risk for food allergies." KOAA.com. October 7, 2010.
⁴"What is a food allergy?" The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. June 10, 2008 .
⁵"Allergies: Problem Foods: Is It an Allergy or Intolerance?" WebMD. June 10, 2008 .

Since I can remember, heart attacks, strokes, stints, triple by-pass surgeries, etc. are all words that I've heard countless times as a child in my small town in Louisiana. Almost everyone I knew had some sort of surgery related to their heart. Over the years, it seemed as if the number of people I knew with heart disease continued to grow along with poor eating habits. In fact, there was a person who was close to me who had two open heart surgeries and a heart transplant, but still refused to change his eating--he laughed at me and said, "I can't eat 'rabbit food' like you." A year later, he died. This really impacted me greatly and it gave me even more ammunition to finish writing my cookbook to help people learn to cook and eat healthy meals that are low in sodium, sugar and fat.

Being that I'm from Louisiana, I know how hard it is to transition to a healthier lifestyle. It's almost a sin! Sweet, salty, and fried...is like the basic foundation of all of our family recipes; it's what makes people smile whenever they say they are going to Louisiana to eat "good food". Well, enough is enough! Good Food is not good if it will kill you! As African Americans, we must stop this nonsense mentality that I have one life to live so I'm going to eat what I want. Well, enough, your life is not just about you. Everyone has a purpose in life and in order to fulfill that purpose, you must be alive. If you continue to eat foods that are fatal to your health, then your purpose will never be fulfilled, which has more of an impact for generations to follow.

Five facts why African Americans MUST make a lifestyle change¹!

FACT 1
Cardiovascular Disease (also known as CVD or sometimes called heart disease) is America's number one killer! In fact, more than 2,200 people die per day with this disease. To break this down further, this is 1 death every 39 seconds!!! This is more than cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, and accidents combined.

FACT 2
Major cause of death for Blacks (non-Hispanics), is cardiovascular disease with men at 44.8% and men at 47.3%

FACT 3
In 2007 the overall death rate for cardiovascular disease was 251.2; black men were at 405.9 and black women at 286.1. Both of these rates are higher than other races (i.e. 294 for white men and 205.7 for white women).

FACT 4
More than 150,000 Americans younger than age 65 died of CVD and almost 33% of all Americans with CVD died before age 75, which is younger than the estimated life expectancy. Of these numbers, CVD caused the death of 47,387 black men and 50,015 black females--that's almost 50%!

FACT 5
Majority heart disease diagnosis is associated directly with diet. In fact, overweight/obesity and physical inactivity were each estimated to be responsible for nearly 1 in 10 deaths.

I hope that these five facts that I have presented to you are enough for you to consider changing your life towards a healthier lifestyle. One that includes making healthier food choices including low salt, low sugar and no frying!

Are you up for the challenge? If you need help or motivation, please post a comment and we can encourage each other!

¹Veronique Roger, et al. "Heart Disease and Stroke Disease--2011 Update: A Report from the American Heart Association," Circulation 2011, 123: e18 - e209: originally published online December 2010.

I was one of the 8 million people who suffered with many problems, and didn't know what was going on. What was this problem that allowed me and others to walk around not noticing any differences in our health thus remaining undiagnosed--the culprit was Thyroid Disease! There are more than 20 million people suffer from a thyroid disorder, and of that number more than 10 million women have low-grade thyroid imbalance. So, how did I find out I had a problem? A family friend saw me during holiday break and told my mom that I needed to have my thyroid checked because my eyes looked bigger than normal. Though I was really offended at the time, her guess was correct! I had hyperthyroidism for months and never knew it!

What is thyroid?
The thyroid is a gland that sits in the neck and is shaped like a butterfly.

Is the thyroid gland important?
The main function of the thyroid gland is to produce thyroid hormone, which regulate the functioning of the body including regulating mood, emotions, and many other brain functions. In fact, this gland controls the body's metabolism; specifically it controls the amount of energy the body burns.

What happens if there is a problem with my thyroid gland?
If the thyroid gland is not performing correctly, there are two most common problems, which are as follows:
1. Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's thyroiditis)--this occurs when there is not enough thyroid hormones thus causing the thyroid to become underactive; according to many studies this affects about 10 percent of the population and is the most common cause of an underactive thyroid.

2. Hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease)--this occurs when there is an excess of thyroid hormones thus causing the thyroid to be overactive.

What are some of the obvious signs of a thyroid problem?
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism have different signs or symptoms. The following are a few signs to make note of:

Hypothyroidism: weight gain, tiredness, increased sleepiness, hair loss including loss of eyebrows, joint pain, constipation, forgetfulness, decreased ability to pay attention and focus, cold intolerant, depression, dry skin, etc.

Hyperthyroidism: weight loss, Fatigue, shakiness, increased bowel movement, restlessness, warm intolerant, rapid heartbeat, anemia, increased sweating, irregular menstrual periods, decreased fertility

Is thyroid disease hereditary?
Thyroid disease is an autoimmune disorder, and there is a high percentage that it could be hereditary, but it is not always the case. There could be other factors that trigger this disease and it differs for everyone.

Is there a way to find out if my thyroid gland is okay?
If you are uncertain about whether your thyroid is not properly functioning, please make an appointment with your general physician and ask to have your thyroid levels checked. This is not traditional tested in the yearly physical exams, it is only ordered if necessary or upon patient request. If your thyroid levels indicate that you are hypo or hyperthyroid active, then please make an appointment with an endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in the endocrine system which includes the thyroid gland, or a naturopathic doctor who specializes in thyroid disorders.

I am writing this post not to scare you, but instead to give you information with the intent of you being proactive about your health. If you have more questions, please post a comment!

Gluten-free foods are on the rise these days, in fact they are just about everywhere, even Wal-Mart! I was happy to see the spike in new products because five years ago when I became gluten free, there was hardly any good products on the market. In fact the few that were available were hard and dry! I think that the increase in gluten-free products has occurred because organizations like the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) and the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) have done a great job with educating the masses and pushing governmental policy changes nationwide. So now all of the food manufacturers have taken notice!

What is gluten?
Gluten is made of two protein found in grains such as wheat, rye, and barley and is an important component in baking. Simply put it is the glue-like or sticky texture in baked goods and it is responsible for causing the baked goods to rise.

What does gluten do to the body?
Gluten doesn't impact everyone. However, gluten does impact people diagnosed with Celiac (pronounced as See-lee-ak) Disease (CD), an autoimmune condition that damages the small intestines whenever a person eats anything with gluten. In fact, according to the Celiac Disease Foundation, when people with this disease eat foods that contain gluten, it creates an immune-mediated toxic reaction that causes damage to the small intestine and does not allow food to be properly absorbed. Visit the Celiac Disease Foundation website to find out more about the symptoms of CD.

Should you consider a gluten-free diet?
Yes, you should definitely eat gluten-free if you have Celiac Disease! Also, you should consider a gluten-free diet if you have challenges with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Autism, or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

What foods are gluten-free?
Some examples of gluten-free foods are as follows: brown rice, corn, buckwheat, quinoa, millet, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, tapioca, brown rice flour, cornmeal, sorghum, beans, soy (use caution), poultry, beef, fish, mushrooms, vegetables, etc. There are a lot of foods that are gluten free, but the key thing to remember is that sometimes foods have hidden gluten ingredients, so make sure that you verify before you purchase. Read the labels or ask questions.

Now that you know more, do you need to consider transitioning to a gluten-free diet?
I have been eating gluten-free since 2005, and I have seen major improvements in my arthritis and I have not looked back! If you have more questions, please post a comment!

The National Association of Broadcasters jumped on board in the fight against obesity and organized over 600 schools nationwide for a Let's Move Flash Mob based on Beyonce's "Move Your Body." "Move Your Body" is an exercise/dance routine created to encourage kids to exercise. The Let's Move Flash Mob took place on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at 1:42pm. Beyonce selected to perform her routine with a group of kids at PS/MS 161 in Harlem while the First Lady Michelle Obama visited Alice Deal Middle School in Washington, DC, to join students with their event--and after looking at the video, it looks like the students were having fun, as well as the First Lady!

Even if you aren't a kid, you will love this video! Check it out!