Black is organic

Dr. Trisha Edwards schools Sway on the uniqueness of black health

BY: Stephanie Pollard

What exactly is so different about black bodies? According to naturopathic doctor Trisha Edwards, black people thrive in the sun, don't do well with cooked food and a Big Mac will especially do the black body more harm than good.

"Biologically, we're structured differently and we require different treatment," says Dr. Edwards. Certified in naturopathy by Dr. Llaila Afrika, a prominent natural health consultant, Dr. Edwards says food that is natural, grown in the sun (high in chlorophyll) and uncooked acts like a battery for the black body.

Says Dr. Edwards: "If I were to eat a Big Mac versus, say, a Caucasian person, it would cause me more harm because of our melanin system. That Big Mac is going to stick to me more." In fact, it's not just the Big Mac black people should avoid. Dairy, cooked foods, starches (rice, especially) and even soy should be cast out of the black diet and replaced with holistic alternatives. "You can have hemp milk or you can have rice milk; yam and cassava are better than rice," she says.

Essentially, Dr. Edwards stresses that eating better foods will prevent diseases that plague the black community today. They include high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, to name just a few of the growing list of ailments. But why are black people so unaware of what is good for their bodies?

"A lot of black people haven't taken the time to research themselves," says Dr. Edwards. "If they did, they'd know what foods and what herbs are okay to eat. Biologically, we are different, yet we're not doing this."

For those who want to modify their diet, Dr. Edwards has a treatment plan founded on holistic foods. The plan includes a four-page chart. On the left side is a list of foods that should be eliminated; on the right are replacement foods. For example, Dr. Edwards suggests replacing meat with hemp simulated meat that looks and feels like the real thing.

Another part of Dr. Edwards's treatment plan is to connect with her patients via Skype to see how their bodies are coping with the changes. As for those who say eating healthy costs more, Dr. Edwards has a few wise words that you don't have to be a doctor to dish out: "Aren't you worth it? This is your body we're talking about."

- To find out more about eating and living healthier, contact Dr. Trisha Edwards at her office: 560 Dennison St., Markham, ON