From 1 Brother 2 another…Part-1

From 1 Brother 2 another…Part-1

I started out writing this as a fireside chat for the brothers. But Where would we be without our sisters. I know, I know. You could be some where’s else. But you are where God wants you to be. And without her…well-, you know the rest of it..(Smile)

While doing some studies in Seattle. I felt something that just didn’t sit right with me. And I literally (and physically) mean sit. After what I thought would be a quick routine (always dreaded by men) trip to the doctor. It turned out to be what has made me respect every little sound I hear from inside of my being (smile). I was asked a series of questions. I was doing well until I was asked about that dreaded question. Has any one in your family ever had Cancer.? I hesitated to answer..But then I finally said yes. He (the doctor) then began to ask things in reference to my parents, and other siblings. After about a short while, which seemed like an eternity. I had to go through the type of exam all Men…not some, but all men have a heart wrenching fear of…well-, here we go..
Man…what a wild exam I thought, and felt at the same time. He (the doctor) talked me through it, to keep me calm. I realized at that moment, there is nothing in the world better than having knowledge. At any and all cost.
At this time the doctor left the room, and returned after a few minutes later. He showed no expression(s) to gage what he was thinking. So I had to be ready for what ever I was told. After an exam like that, what more can be so surprising I thought. So..He says. I’ve found your prostate to be enlarged..Yikes..! But I stood there as strong as I could. With no facial expressions, or gestures. I kept telling myself, I was a strong Blackman. I’m not receiving this. I ultimately said...I’m F.O.I..(Fruit of Islam) Nothing is going to hurt me. But not realizing it was pain that brought me there.
Needless to say, when he (the doctor) left the room, I felt crushed under the world. My thoughts went a billion miles per second, but only in slow motion. I had to get it together, and quick. Because he was on the way back. I was not going to let know one see this Blackman in distressed, unnerved, nor crushed. However-. The nurse came in, and told me she knew how I felt, and things were going to be fine. Huh..that’s what you say. But what about……? I asked all these questions, and she answered everyone of them.. Again getting the information that I needed to make progress. Soon after that, me and the doctor sat down and began talk. And this is the first part of what I was told.

He say’s, every person has cancer cells in their body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime, when the person's immune system is strong, and the cancer cells will be destroyed and preventedfrom multiplying and forming tumors. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to something genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors (sounds familiar)For the person to overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies. There must be a drastic change in diet, along with supplements that will aid in strengthening the immune system. There are methods used such as: Chemotherapy, which involves poisoning those rapidly growing cancer cells. However this method is sometimes effective. But can also destroy the natural growing healthy cells within the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and that results in organ damage like the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites. A more effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.
I will look closer at those foods in my next blog….
I hope by this and other Blog’s to help inspire us as black men to loose the fear of going to get the necessary checkups, and to take better care of our bodies. To better care for our families.

Your Brother and Friend,
Chef Eriell Muhammad

Just like any relationship. You have your ups and Downs. There are some hard times, and some sweet times. You go through the good, as well as the bad. But just as we may say to our significant other when things aren’t going to good. “I can do bad all by myself”. Well-, I believe we can do “All Good” by ourselves.Recall, after recall. Tainted product after tainted product. Scare after Scare. If its not Fish, its Beef. If it’s not chicken its turkey. If it’s not fruit, it’s Vegetables. Just when you thought the American all time favorite, (Peanut butter) was safe,.. Yikes.! That’s just to name the products that have gotten media coverage. I’ve learned the word recall means: (Remember, to bring to mind, or to annul, or revocation.) I mean, how can trust be built in a relationship if we keep going back. The more there is recall, the less trust.Since the early thirties, the Hon. Elijah Muhammad has always taught and stressed as a Black Nation. The need for Growing, Manufacturing, and selling our own food Stuffs. Having control of the Quality, as well as Quantity of our own. I asked a question to a group of young black culinary students. “Do you think the food supply will have an affect on your ability to provide a quality meal?” Overall, Yes was the answer.I would implore all of us to take a look at where all of the food we consume is coming from, mainly China…China? Yikes.! And other parts of Asia. Especially seafood products. Of course Japan, has a large import of food stuffs. You know those bargains we find in our favorite dollar stores. India, Britain, and other places we can’t pronounce. Let alone traveled there. I only want to help shed a little light on our All American and (local) food supply.What is the position of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad today (2009)?, Rather than 1930.? It’s the same….Let it be known that the “Three-Year Economic Plan” is for ALL 22 MILLION SO-CALLED AMERICAN NEGROS for the purpose of helping self against poverty and want and to curtail our wasteful spending. Pg 191(How to Eat to Live-book II)Having been a chef for some years, there is a certain style, and trust you build with family friends, and customers. Because they believe in the information, and quality of food stuffs you provide. You build a relationship built on truth. If we as Chefs, as-well as food handlers can’t be trusted, then how can we be Healers of our People. Remember, We become what we eat..Chef Eriell Muhammad, SoulBread 2009

Use your noodle

I wonder how many of us can say we’ve never eaten that all time favorite. Ramen Noodles…I know everyone remembers the chicken flavor. Or that shrimp, or Spicy Chili flavor with them dehydrated vegetables.(Just add hot water) ShaZamm.! Its easy, Its fast, and its convenient…

Whether at home alone, at the office for a quick lunch, or, you just didn’t have time to fix your kids anything. A quick bowl of Ramen Noodle’s does the job…and a Job It does. This quick and easy meal has become a staple in the African American community.
But what’s not being said is the high intake of sodium.
Researchers from a University that studies food chemistry, published some medical reports that high salt levels in the blood, as would be observed in people with high salt intake, could significantly suppress the activity of an enzyme called nitric oxide synthase or (NOS). But I want to be clear as say there is a difference between Salt, and Soduim.

NOS is the enzyme that produces nitric oxide (NO), a molecule used by the cells lining blood vessels (endothelial cells) to signal surrounding muscle to relax, and thereby improving blood flow and reducing blood pressure. Salt is of course a vital nutrient and is necessary for the body to function, but as a campaigner for salt reduction Its important to know what the daily limits are.
On your next trip to the grocery store, read the back (Nutritional Facts) of those noodle packages. The salt content is staggering. It has the sodium content that’s totals enough for a large man working construction out in the sun for at least 12 hours. Yikes..! If that’s what we’re giving our children, and our loved ones, we wont have them around long enough to live out their GOD given talents, and potential’s. Oh, I failed to say that ramen noodles have a shelf life of about 25-30 years…you do the math.
The adverse effects of taking in so much sodium cause the person to be lethargic, and tired. Most times resulting in headaches, dizziness, and muscle pain
As I write this, I hope to be more instrumental in helping our community to make healthier food choices. I have met many people while researching for my book, and traveling to other cities, and towns. They’ve all said to me, they one time or another literally survived on ramen noodles.
Especially those of us that went to college on a budget. (Sounds familiar)
Or those of us that are just on a budget. And we sometime do what we have to do. But our health is what we have to do.

By: Chef Eriell Muhammad from the book, SoulBread 2009