H
E
A
L
T
H
I
N
Y
O
U
R
H
A
N
D
S
Is Soul Food
Bad For You?
The Owens Health and Wellness Center hosts the Community Health Film
and Discussion Series on the last Wednesday of the month. One of the films
screened was Byron Hurt’s Soul Food Junkies. Soul Food Junkies explores the
history of soul food, its place in African American culture, and its effects on
the health of African Americans. Framing the film around his father’s love
of eating and subsequent illness and death, filmmaker Byron Hurt tells the
story of soul food, from its origins during the days of slavery to present day
modifications in traditional cooking. Many of the items that are considered
soul food staples, such as yams, corn, and the lowest-quality pork, were
once the sustenance of slaves. Over time, dishes made with these items
morphed into Southern cuisine, as survival food became a delicacy enjoyed
by others.
Soul foods prepared in the traditional manner are generally very high in
starch, fat, sodium, cholesterol, and calories. In fact, traditional-style soul
foods have been blamed for the abnormally high rates of high blood
pressure (hypertension), diabetes, atherosclerosis (clogged arteries), stroke,
and heart attack suffered by African Americans, especially those living in
the southern and central United States.
By themselves, certain items in a soul-food diet are healthy. Collard and other
greens are rich sources of fiber; vitamins A, B6, and C; and minerals,
including iron, calcium, manganese, and folic acid, and also contain small
amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. However, the traditional style of cooking
soul food vegetables at high temperatures or for long periods of time
destroys the water-soluble vitamins (A and C) or causes them to leach into
the cooking water. Peas, rice, and legumes are excellent, inexpensive sources
of protein and also contain important vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Sweet
potatoes are a very good source of beta-carot