Reginald Williams
Special to the AFRO
Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md) led a three-venue healthcare tour on March 23 to bring attention to the Day of Action and the anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, enacted in 2010.
Along with First Lady Shawna Watley of Kingdom Fellowship AME Church, and healthcare advocates, Ivey’s first stop at DaVita’s Friendly Farm Home Dialysis in Fort Washington, Md., provided what were described as “eye-opening” revelations.
“I had no idea that poor blood pressure could lead to kidney disease,” shared Watley.
High blood pressure, according to medical experts, is a prime reason for chronic kidney disease.
Hypertension can lead to kidney disease, which can subsequently lead to more severe hypertension. According to the World Health Organization, kidney disease is one of the top 10 causes of death. Experts maintain that foods high in animal protein, dairy and sugar can cause kidney damage.
Many DaVita patients residing in southern Fort Washington revealed that they live in a food desert and often must purchase food from convenience stores. Watley suggested ways to support the community in combating declining health issues.
“Why can’t we do a pop-up in southern Prince George’s where they have the Dollar Store?” Watley asked, rhetorically. “We can see about using that parking lot and providing fresh vegetables for the people. We need to figure out how we can meet their needs.”
A diet that consistently consumes fresh vegetables is one of the recommended habits to embrace when fighting chronic diseases like high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. NuVegan Café, whose tagline is Nutritious Meals For Everyone, provides healthy food options to the citizens of Prince George’s County and the neighboring communities.
Dining on vegetables and plant-based lasagna, Ivey, a Rocky Mount, N.C. native, was excited about his meatless meal.
“We came here, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised,” said Ivey. “I’m an African-American male who grew up in the South–and still eat like it. But I can see myself making the transition after this today. The food is fantastic.”
Ivey understands the impact that food has on overall health.
“What you eat has an impact on how you live and how long you live. We started out at a dialysis clinic and one of the points made by the staff was that their patients have diabetes, high blood pressure and it’s starting to occur earlier and earlier. They have more younger people coming in than they did before. Changing what you eat makes a critical difference.”
Vegan and plant-based diets, according to several studies, produce sustainable health benefits. Vernon Woodland, the NuVegan owner, has been credited by many customers for assisting in their lifestyle transformations.
“I feel like my food impacts people in a good way,” explained Woodland. “We get a lot of testimonials from customers that come in because doctors told them they had to make lifestyle changes,” said Woodland, who owns eight NuVegan locations. “Like Mayor Adams , they come in and within two months or three months you can see the health changes. It starts with good food. It starts with education– and then having access to the food.”
Watley explained that, for her, “healthier eating is a ministry.”
“It’s about teaching our community how to eat healthier,” she said.
Woodland is thrilled to learn that NuVegan is helping customers who once suffered from health issues to change their lifestyles.
“When a customer pulls me to the side and says, ‘Hey Vernon, I just want to let you know that I don’t have diabetes anymore, or I don’t have high cholesterol’ – those things make me feel good,” said Woodland. “Hearing those testimonies makes me feel like what I do here at NuVegan is valuable.”
Ivey presented Woodland with a Congressional award for his health-conscious approach.
“I bestowed the Congressional Citation of Recognition to encourage the good work of keeping Marylanders healthy. Vernon Woodland is the type of entrepreneur we want our folks inside the Beltway to support,” said Ivey. “Fresh whole foods and alternatives to highly processed fast foods will help our communities avoid chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and kidney failure.”
Ivey’s final tour stop was at the Riderwood Senior Community Living in Silver Spring, Md. where he spoke with an auditorium of seniors.
According to Ivey’s office, the tour was an interconnected effort. The congressional office collaborated with entrepreneurs, health care facilities—dialysis and elder care—and health advocates for an integrated approach to holistic healing, starting with education.
Recognizing the 14th anniversary of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” Ivey reflected on former First Lady Michelle and President Barack Obama’s holistic mission.
“It’s funny because when you think about Barack and Michelle, Barack’s main goal and largest accomplishment was Obamacare– which provided coverage– but Michelle’s big push for eating right makes a difference,” explained Ivey. “They put the two together, which is what we are trying to do today because it makes a difference.”
Ivey’s tour followed President Joe Biden’s executive order requesting that several federal agencies expand and improve research on women’s health. In his 2024 State of the Union, Biden called for Congress to invest $12 billion in new funding for women’s health research.
Reginald Williams, the author of “A Marginalized Voice: Devalued, Dismissed, Disenfranchised and Demonized” writes on Black men and Holistic Health concerns. Please email bookreggie@reginaldwilliams.org or visit amvonlinestore.com for more information.
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