Food is a huge part of the human experience. We not only need food to stay health and fuel our energy needs, it also contributes to our feelings of community, shapes our society, and even identifies us with our culture. But for some, food is an obstacle wrought with many challenges. Food allergies are an unfortunate part of many children and adults’ lives with the prevalence of food allergies increasing in the United States. One JAMA study noted that almost eleven percent of adults surveyed had a food allergy and that at least half of those surveyed had at least one food allergy that first appeared in adulthood [1]. Undoubtedly food allergies are a burden for a sizable amount of the adult population. Children don’t fare much better when it comes to food allergies. According to FARE, the Food and Allergy Resource and Education Institution, eight percent of children suffer from food allergies [2]. The most common food allergies most often centered around peanuts, shellf...
The world was shocked with the news of the passing of Chadwick Boseman, the extraordinary actor who played pivotal roles like Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, and most notably, T’Challa in the Black Panther. Boseman was a beacon of light to the African American community and a picture of perfect health to those outside of his inner circle. The news that someone so vibrant and seemingly healthy could die so young has shaken the world to the core. No one knew he was sick. In fact, in the months leading up to his death, his recent weight loss brought so much bullying and ridicule that he was forced to delete pictures and turn off comments from his Instagram account. As we now know, Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016. He never spoke of his battle with the deadly disease publicly. He succumbed to the disease at the young age of 43. His passing has left many of us with so many questions. How could someone so healthy have such a deadly disease as colon cancer...