Etta James inspires this episode of Divabetic’s podcast.
After the six-time Grammy award winner conquered her drug addiction in 1988, she struggled with her weight. At the peak of her obesity, she reportedly weighed as much as 400 pounds. At just five foot three, this weight gain often left her bedbound, and when she did appear publicly, she was seen in a wheelchair. She was unable to perform during this period.
However, after successful gastric bypass surgery, she lost over 200 pounds and began to perform again.
She told Ebony Magazine in 2006 she could sing “lower, louder and longer” than before.
However, she still had enormous difficulty adjusting to her smaller stomach. “I had trouble keeping food down,” she said. Her mental health also suffered. “I went through a depression. You’re doing well, and then all of a sudden you’re not. I thought I was going to fail.”
Etta James’s openness about her frustrations in managing her weight after the surgery has helped other people cope with the same issues. It’s important to remember you’re not alone if you struggle with weight loss issues, depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem. You owe it to yourself to get comprehensive treatment for all your symptoms—including your mental health symptoms. Seek a referral to a mental health professional to get the treatment you need for any mental health issues you are dealing with.
As she entered her 70s, Etta James began struggling with health issues. She was hospitalized in 2010 for a blood infection and other ailments. It was later revealed that the legendary singer suffered from dementia and was receiving treatment for leukemia.
Podcast guests include Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Monique Renee Rolle, Catherine Schuller, Susan Greenberg Weiner, and Mama Rose Marie.
Throughout the podcast, we will spotlight Etta James’ iconic recordings from the All The Way and The Essential Etta James albums courtesy of SONY MUSIC.
Diabetes Late Nite podcast inspired by Etta James, is free on iTunes, BlogTalkRadio, and Spotify.
Nothing beats presenting diabetes outreach with DAZZLE at the Apollo Theater. One of my all-time favorite moments in Divabetic history was playing Serve, Taste, or Trash! Food Game at the Apollo Theater because it was an opportunity to combine honoring Luther’s musical legacy with diabetes wellness outreach.
The game’s initial goal was to allow confessed picky eaters to express dislike of certain fruits and vegetables and then challenge them to try them differently. The game was born out of my dislike of peas.
Experts agree that we shouldn’t overwhelm ourselves with a plate full of new foods. Instead, serve familiar favorites and one new food you’re ready to try. Commit to just a few bites. You’ll still have something to eat if you don’t like it.
However, Serve, Taste, or Trash‘s aim morphed into raising awareness for the amount of added sugars in popular food and drinks.
On this episode of Divabetic’s podcast, we’re talking about ADDED SUGARS with musical inspiration from Sade.
Added sugars contribute calories to your diet but no essential nutrients.
Many people consume more sugar than they realize. Knowing how much sugar you consume is essential because our bodies don’t need sugar to function properly.
How Much ADDED SUGAR Is Too Much?
The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than 6 percent of calories each day. For most American women, that’s no more than 100 calories per day or about 6 teaspoons of sugar. It’s 150 calories per day for men, or about 9 teaspoons. The AHA recommendations focus on all added sugars without singling out any particular types, such as high-fructose corn syrup.
As in most of my Man-in-the-street videos, nothing was pre-planned at the Apollo Theater. My friend Arthur and I just showed up, found a spot, and started shooting.
When we went around the block to the stage door, the Apollo historian, Billy Mitchell, magically appeared. He was gracious enough to agree to be interviewed.
Billy and I discussed Luther Vandross’s history at the Apollo Theater. Luther was a member of Apollo’s musical ensemble called Listen to My Brother.
The ensemble was made up of 16 New York City kids. Peter Long put the group together from the Apollo, whose wife, Loretta Long, was a Sesame Street cast member.
The 16-member group performed at the Apollo Theater in the late 1960s, opening for many of the venue’s famous performers and making several musical contributions to Sesame Street. Luther sang lead vocals on “You Gotta Learn.”
Luther confessed during a Motown special taped at the Apollo that he’d blown Amateur Night four times.
Crazy as it sounds, we were filming using a small digital camera (not even an -iPhone!!!), so the fact that he stopped to talk with a guy in a fruit suit was amazing!
From 2003 – 2005, I was fortunate to participate in several Health Fairs in the lobby of the Apollo Theater. I met so many wonderful people living with, at risk, and affected by diabetes whose interest and support of my diva brand of diabetes outreach motivated me to keep on, keeping on.
It was days like this in the blazing Summer sun when haphazardly, we met terrific, colorful characters in the street who played along with the Divabetic health games that kept me going. These moments of sheer coincidence have helped me create new ways to inform people entertainingly.
On this episode of Divabetic’s podcast, we’re talking about ‘THE SWEETEST TABOO’ aka ‘ADDED SUGAR’ with musical inspiration from Sade.
Sugar is everywhere. But do we understand the impact it has on our diabetes health?
You may think of sweets, chocolate, sodas, table sugar, and perhaps fruit if asked to name sugary foods. But sugar also appears in savory foods such as ready meals, soups, salads, sauces, and ‘healthy’ foods such as breakfast cereals and yogurt. Furthermore, starches such as bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes also convert to sugar in our bloodstream, having the same impact on our bodies. These ‘hidden sugars’ can add a surprising amount to our daily intake.
Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Tameka Milline, Catherine Schuller, Kathy Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage’, and Stephanie MacKendree. Throughout the podcast, we feature music from ‘The Essential Sade’ album courtesy of SONY Music.
Yesterday, my mother and I went to the Palmetto Opera‘s performance of Great Voices from Broadway to Opera for a belated Mother’s Day celebration. The program featured some of opera’s greatest arias, duets, and memorable songs from the Golden Age of Broadway. My mom loves Phantom of the Opera, and I love Turandot‘s Nessun Dorma and La Traviata‘s Sempre Libera, so it was a win-win for both of us.
The concert also featured two songs from Italian composer Giacomo Puccini‘s masterpiece, La Boheme (O Mimi, tu piu non torni, O soave fancuilla).
Giacomo Puccini was born in 1858 and later diagnosed with diabetes in 1908. Numerous reports mention that he struggled to manage his diagnosis for much of his life. Understandably, managing diabetes was difficult before the discovery of insulin wasn’t until 1921.
Before insulin was discovered in 1921, people with diabetes were put on very strict diets with minimal carbohydrate intake. Some doctors prescribed as little as 450 calories a day! Sadly, some people with diabetes died of starvation.
On this Divabetic podcast, we intersperse highlights of the history of diabetes, self-care treatments, and innovations for the past hundred years as we discuss Puccini’s artistry and life.
Divabetic podcast guests include Toby Smithson, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, FAND, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.
Giacomo Puccini’s artistic triumphs include La Bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly. Unfortunately, his last opera, based on the fable of Turandot, would remain unfinished due to his death from throat cancer in Brussels in 1924.
Plus, we had the added treat of hearing the Theme from The Godfather and The Impossible Dream from Man Of La Mancha.
People with diabetes and their loved ones probably considered the discovery of insulin the impossible dream.
A young surgeon named Frederick Banting and his assistant Charles Best figured out how to remove insulin from a dog’s pancreas in 1921. They continued to experiment with dogs until January 1922. Leonard Thompson, a 14-year-old boy dying from diabetes in a Toronto hospital, was the first to receive an insulin injection. Within 24 hours, Leonard’s dangerously high blood glucose dropped to near-normal levels.
The news about insulin spread around the world like wildfire. In 1923, Banting and Macleod received the Nobel Prize in Medicine, which they shared with Best and Collip. Thank you, diabetes researchers!
My boss, Luther Vandross, who had type 2 diabetes, recorded The Impossible Dream for his Songs album. He performed it many times in concert to the thrill of audiences. Recently PBS aired his performance at Royal Albert Hall in London.
Interesting Fact: The University of South Carolina boasts a top-rated music school with an Opera department.
We’re discussing minimizing the drama in our diabetes lives with music from the ultimate diva, Maria Callas.
Maria Callas changed how we listen to opera—and charged the ambition of the singers who followed her. Her ability to interpret a wide variety of different roles truly set her apart, establishing her as a phenomenon, an operatic diva. She could fully exploit the dramatic strength of her low vocal range as much as the high and bright notes of her high range.
Opera takes any dramatic story and tries to make it more exciting and more believable with the help of music. Symptoms and situations related to diabetes are often dramatic and come on very suddenly. But how do you react to them? Are you a ‘drama queen’?
Whenever we are immersed in something overwhelming, we can learn how to deal with challenges better.
Divabetic podcast guests include Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport LCSW, PsyD, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWC, FAND, Lorraine Brooks, American Heart and American Diabetes Association’s Know Diabetes By Heart Ambassador Rob Taub, Yoga for Diabetes Author and Director Rachel Zinman and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES.
Last night I took my mother to see the new film Book Club: The Next Chapter, starring Jane Fonda (85), Candice Bergen (77), Diane Keaton (77), and Mary Steenburgen (70).
I had no idea walking into the theater that this film would resolve any lingering doubts I have about publishing the soon-to-be-released Divabetic’s ebook about intimacy and diabetes for women entitled Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide To Love & Intimacy With Diabetes by two leading experts, Janis Roszler MS, RD, LD/N, CDCES, FAND and Donna Rice MBA, BSN, RN, CDCES, FAADE. Hollywood’s crude depiction of older women only fueled my desire to provide accurate, honest, and friendly help about this important topic for women with diabetes.
I enjoyed the first film and looked forward to seeing the sequel. The new movie follows the journey of four best friends as they take their book club to Italy for the fun girls’ trip they never had. But it wasn’t as good as the first film.
After the movie, we went to a piano bar for dinner. There was a group of eight older women at a nearby table. None of these women resembled the four women we saw on screen. On top of being several dress sizes smaller than the group of piano bar women, the four movie stars were crude, constantly drinking alcohol, and seemed only interested in talking or having sex.
The film’s depiction of older women could have been more realistic. What I hoped would be an empowering big-screen event for a female ensemble cast whose average age is 77 is sadly a letdown. Plus, they barely discussed any books. What made the first film so much fun was seeing these four women find ease and comfort in talking about and experiencing intimacy after reading 50 Shades Of Grey.
The Nex Chapter’s plot focuses on eternally single Vivian (Fonda) getting married, and her best pals Diane (Keaton), Sharon (Bergen), and Carol (Steenburgen) take her on a bachelorette trip to Rome, Venice, where hijinks ensue. The trip’s inspiration comes from 1988’s mystical self-help parable, the Alchemist. The movie’s plot hinges on the book’s central theme of fate versus taking control of your destiny.
Unfortunately, Hollywood thinks America’s idea of entertainment is seeing old ladies misbehaving or talking dirty. This is why I feel it’s essential to publish our book and help women of a certain age living with diabetes get honest advice about sexual health issues.
Jane Fonda’s roles lately are all crude women with filthy mouths, just like Diane Keaton’s characters are all as cooky as her wardrobe on and off-screen.
Her dialogue consists of double-entendres such as, ‘Give him his credit, he’s 2,000 years old, and he’s still hard as a rock,’ when she looks at a Roman statue.
In reality, men with diabetes are three times more likely to have erectile dysfunction (ED). Getting older doesn’t cause ED, but it does increase your chance of getting it. It would have been interesting to see her character, Vivian, find creative solutions to coping with her lover, Don Johnson’s issues if he had ED in the bedroom.
As an older actress, she seems determined to show people that women over a certain age are still sexually active singlehandedly. Her film roles, Book Club, Book Club: The Next Chapter, and 80 For Brady, seem to exist for this sole purpose. I admire her work in the TV series Grace and Frankie for how she and her co-star, Lily Tomlin, handle this subject.
But on the big screen, Jane Fonda’s characters miss the mark. Candice Bergen, whose face and shape are the most realistic depiction of actual older women, seems unconvincingly comfortable having a one-night stand in a Venetian gondola.
On the one hand, I want to say, “Good for her,” but on the other hand, I want to point out how unrealistic and irresponsible this scene is. For one thing, there’s no mention of condoms. As a gay man living in San Francisco during the height of the AIDS crisis, I was constantly told by friends and strangers to use protection. Sadly, people who gave me the advice seem to not heed it for themselves.
Statistics published in 2018 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have shown that the number of new HIV infections is growing faster in individuals over 50 than in people 40 years and under,and HIV may be the tip of the iceberg.
Older Women and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
The aging process also puts older adults at greater risk for STDs. The immune system declines as people age, making them more susceptible to infectious diseases.
After menopause, women’s vaginal tissues thin, and natural lubrication decreases. This can increase the risk of micro-tears and sexual transmission of certain diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
Secondly, the lack of natural lubrication, often called ‘vaginal dryness’ in older women, is common. This is especially true for women with diabetes. If you’re experiencing vaginal dryness, then sex will be painful, regardless if you’re in a bed or on a gondola.
Hollywood’s constant stream of unrealistic portrayals of real-life older women is more reason for accurate, friendly information about intimacy for women with diabetes. Hopefully, when it’s available, you will download a copy of Divabetic’s upcoming ebook, Sweet Romance, on Amazon.
Can’t wait for the book to come out? Need advice now?
Tune in to this Divabetic podcast; Mr. Divabetic explores issues of love, intimacy, and diabetes on this special one-hour podcast. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to sexual health complications, including vaginal dryness, sensation, and performance. Up to 50% of men and 25% of women may experience some sexual problem or a loss of sex drive.
Don’t equate sexual performance with love or a fulfilling relationship; focus on letting your partner know you care and want to give pleasure as part of your relationship.
Mr. Divabetic’s Guests include Best-Selling Author Lisa Eugene, Jennifer Martsolf from Trigg Laboratories (the makers of Wet Lubricants), and Janis Roszler MS, RD, LD/N, CDCES, FAND (2008-2009 Diabetes Educator of the Year (AADE).
Suppose you or your partner is experiencing sexual difficulties. In that case, you may find it helpful to meet with a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, marriage counselor, or sex therapist. These professionals can help you learn how to reduce stress and change behaviors and attitudes, mainly when impotence is caused by stress or other mental health issues.
GLAM MORE FEAR LESS: Join Divabetic’s growing Facebook and Twitter communities. We’re celebrating almost 20 years of presenting diabetes educational outreach that dazzles!
The 12-3-30 challenge on TikTok consists of setting a treadmill to a 12% incline and walking at 3 miles per hour for 30 minutes.
Last year, the challenge went viral after many TikTokers lost a sustainable weight. The people who created the challenge believe it can help anyone burn more calories, maintain strength and build muscle while alleviating joint problems.
A new twist to my existing workout sounds like fun!
Actually, the 12-3-30 workout sounds like fun on paper. As someone who warms up on a treadmill before group exercises (it’s the only way I will do over 100 situps), I frequently walk on the gym treadmill at the Level 3 (3 mph) setting. It is a moderate-paced walk. However, when you’re on a substantial incline Level 3 setting is vigorous.
Photo by Ryan De Hamer on Unsplash
The press release for the 12-3-30 challenge states walking uphill during a treadmill workout at the same pace as regular walking may increase endurance, improve performance, and increase lean muscle mass.
It all sounds good, but I’m over 50. At my age, sustaining that pace on a steep incline for thirty minutes might require a defibrillator. For me, the angle or the speed would have to be lowered. I would reduce the incline even though the experts behind this challenge say inclines strengthen joints. Too many of my friends from my adult volleyball league have suffered joint issues. Many under 60 have opted for joint replacement surgery.
As I mentioned, I love adding a new twist to my workout. I think it’s important to vary your workouts to keep yourself motivated. One of the big reasons why people struggle to work out regularly is due to repetitive exercise burn-out. Many people perform workouts they don’t actually enjoy just because they consider the workout “good for them.” Or they work out because they overate or overindulge. They treat it as a form of punishment.
I’m doing everything I can to avoid Prediabetes. Regular exercise is a big part of my overall health plan.
Prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Approximately 96 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 80% don’t know they have it.
Keeping your workouts fresh is not only fun but is vital to help you commit to lifelong fitness. So if this challenge appeals to you and keeps you motivated, go for it!
If you discover prediabetes, remember that it doesn’t mean you’ll develop type 2. Working with a team of healthcare collaborators, you can create a personalized treatment plan and alter your lifestyle through food choices and physical activity. Even small changes can have a huge impact on delaying or preventing diabetes.
Need some inspiration? Tune in to Divabetic’s Healthy Swaps podcast on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 6 – 7:30 PM, EST.
With a few simple swaps, you can help live your best life while managing your diabetes. Our experts offer straightforward, simple, and fun swap ideas for drinks, medications, self-care, and fashion. Plus, we share style tips and words of inspiration to help you maintain a healthy habit.
Developing these habits isn’t always easy. Adapting to a new routine can be tricky, and it’s often tempting to want to return to old ways if we don’t see immediate results. One of the biggest mistakes people make when forming a new habit is taking on too much too quickly. Focus on what’s working in your diabetes self-care plan before overhauling diabetes management. Instead of decluttering the entire house, why not focus on one room or closet? Why not focus on the calories you drink rather than everything you eat? If you want to eat healthier, try replacing one dessert daily with a piece of fruit rather than cutting out sugar completely. If you’re going to get into hiking, start with a walk at lunchtime. Setting small goals you can achieve will help keep you motivated along the way.
Guests include Catherine Schuller, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RD, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst Nicolay, MEd, NDTR, and MamaRose Marie. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.
Please feel free to call-in comments at 1-347-215-8551. Diva TalkRadio’s signature show is one you want to hear live every month.
Today in Music History (May 18, 1982): Jeffrey Osborne releases his solo debut album. Before that, Jeffrey Osborne was the lead singer of Love Togetherness and Devotion (later shortened to L.T.D.), one the best and most popular self-contained Soul groups of the 70s.
He credits his long career to staying healthy. He admits he has run every day since he was 18 years old. “I work out five days each week. “I’m up at 6:30 in the morning every day, and I’m in the gym for an hour and a half to two hours,” Jeffrey Osborne says. “I’ve always stayed in shape.”
Other members OF L.T.D. include Carle Vickers (trumpet/sax/flute), Toby Wynn (sax), Abraham “Onion” Miller (sax), Arthur Lorenzo Carnegie (sax, flute, guitar), Jeffrey (drums and vocals), and brother Billy Osborne (keyboards), Henry Davis (bass, flute, keyboards), Jimmy Davis (keyboards and musical director), guitarist Johnny McGhee and horn player Jake Riley.
“In all the time I was with L.T.D., I was never allowed to do an interview by myself. I wasn’t even allowed to talk on stage between songs,” says Jeffrey Osborne. “I couldn’t get a publishing agreement or a production deal because everyone had their own little role to play in the group… and the money, well, anything split 10 ways can’t be much.”
L.T.D. landed a #1 Soul hit in 1976 with the now-classic love song “Love Ballad” and the album “Love to the World.” They topped the charts again the following year with the funky dance cut “Back In Love Again” and the #1 album Something To Love.
How does Jeffrey Osborne still sound the same?He says the secret is to stay active and eat healthy. He’s been a vegan for about a year. “I thank the Lord to still have the voice that I’ve always had,” he said.
The group continued to score over the next three years with a series of wonderful Osborne ballads, including “Stranger,” “Where Did We Go Wrong,” and “We Both Deserve Each Other’s Love.”
Throughout the L.T.D. albums, Jeffrey Osborne became a larger and larger presence. His debut album would begin a career as a solo artist that surpassed even his work with L.T.D.
“Everyone in the group sang when I joined them. That was one of the problems with L.T.D.: there was no focal point,” says Jeffrey Osborne. “It took until 1976, or about six or seven years, before I was put into the spotlight as a vocalist. That’s when I recorded ‘Love Ballad,’ and it became a hit for the group.”
The album features radio-friendly ballads like “On The Wings of Love” and “Congratulations,” an emotional song of loss that remains one of his most requested tracks.
We’re celebrating Divabetic’s 12th Year Anniversary of Podcasting with musical inspiration from Babyface and music from his A Closer Look album courtesy of SONY Music. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks,Susan WeinerMS, RDN, CDCES,FADCES, Ivan Hampden Jr., and Collage Artist Tom Cocotos. Hosted by Max “Mr. Divabetic” Szadek.
Our musical inspiration, Kenneth Edmonds, known professionally as Babyface, has written over 250 top-10 R&B and pop hits, working with Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Luther Vandross, and Whitney Houston.
“The blessing of being able to write music and let the music speak for itself is you let the melodies and let the lyrics and the groove talk to people instead of me talking to people,” says Babyface.
What makes Babyface so great? His ability to craft a song that touches our emotions captivates our ears and perfectly harmonizes every word. It’s a rare gift that not many people have in music.
“I would say that I’ve been lucky. Being blessed and not really ever giving up,” says Babyface.
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your diabetes wellness journey! We’re looking forward to sharing more insight and advice on diabetes self-care from experts and peers, along with more great music in the next year!
With a few simple swaps, you can help live your best life while managing your diabetes. Our experts offer straightforward, simple, and fun swap ideas for drinks, medications, self-care, and fashion. Plus, we share style tips and words of inspiration to help you maintain a healthy habit.
Developing these habits isn’t always easy. Adapting to a new routine can be tricky, and it’s often tempting to want to return to old ways if we don’t see immediate results. One of the biggest mistakes people make when forming a new habit is taking on too much too quickly. Focus on what’s working in your diabetes self-care plan before overhauling diabetes management. Instead of decluttering the entire house, why not focus on one room or closet? Why not focus on the calories you drink rather than everything you eat? If you want to eat healthier, try replacing one dessert daily with a piece of fruit rather than cutting out sugar completely. If you’re going to get into hiking, start with a walk at lunchtime. Setting small goals you can achieve will help keep you motivated along the way.
Our friend and podcast guest, Dr. Lisa Young, shares some great suggestions for smart swaps for a healthy heart in this Video. Dr. Young, PhD, RDN, CDN is an internationally recognized nutritionist in private practice and offers counseling to adults and children.
Guests include Catherine Schuller, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RD, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst Nicolay, MEd, NDTR, and MamaRose Marie. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.
Please feel free to call-in comments at 1-347-215-8551. Diva TalkRadio’s signature show is one you want to hear live every month.
I’m thrilled my friends, Crystal Wilson Blackmon and Penni Wilson, professionally known as Crystal Penny, will be on Richard Marzetti’s Soul Life show on Solar Radio today.
They will be discussing their new song, “Standards.” I wrote this song with them and my Luther Vandross musical family member, Ivan Hampden Jr. – it means so much to return to music twenty years after Luther’s passing.
Ivan and I have had professional and personal ups and down’s over these past two decades.
Thanks to you, I channeled my grief into helping people affected by and at risk for diabetes through my work with Divabetic. Like anyone in the entertainment industry, I experienced disappointments and setbacks throughout my career. I feel fortunate that I still have the passion, perseverance, and imagination to write song lyrics. “Standards” is my ode to all my favorite divas – Dionne Warwick, Etta James, Phyllis Hyman, Sarah Vaughan, Chaka Khan, Nina Simone, Gladys Knight, and Patti LaBelle (who has once again sparked my creativity!)
Penni and Crystal are super-talented sisters who have survived several music career setbacks and disappointments to continue making incredible music. Their passion for making music began in Pittsburgh, performing as teenagers as The Lovations preserved a bad record deal and several broken promises to continue today. Another retro disco song I wrote with Crystal and Penni, “Are You Ready?” was the theme song for the first year of Divabeticpodcasts.
During the pandemic, UK audiences rediscovered the Lovation’s Original Soul Classics records on multiple music streaming apps, which sparked Penni and Crystal’s interest in returning to the studio. Fortunately, I was the lucky fool who called them up to collaborate on a song. I wrote lyrics and recorded (an off-key) melody for a song called “Standards,” paying tribute to several female vocalists they idolized growing up. With Ivan Hampden Jr.‘s magic touch and polish, we released “Standards” earlier this Spring.
Crystal Penny Guest on Richard Marzetti’s Soul Life on Solar Radio LISTEN NOW
It’s been a fantastic journey for all of us. We were surprised and delighted by the response our song, “Standards,” received from UK Audiences. For the past six weeks, “Standards” has been on the BCfm Soul Chart hosted by Tony Griffin. We climbed as high as #3, which isn’t too shabby!
“This subsidization of junk food is fueling American health crises,” Florida Senator Mark Rubio wrote, who plans to introduce legislation that would “explicitly exclude” sugar-sweetened sodas and prepared desserts from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Food and Nutrition Service. He aims to rework the program to push for healthier food options such as milk and pure fruit juice. However, his adversaries argue his intention is strictly to lower government funding.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) is the nation’s most important anti-hunger program, reaching 38 million people nationwide in 2019 alone. More than 65% of SNAP participants are in families with children.
“More than 40 percent of U.S. adults are obese, and roughly half have diabetes or prediabetes. These diseases can be debilitating. They are also extremely expensive, costing hundreds of billions of dollars in medical costs each year,” Rubio wrote. “That SNAP plays a role in their spread is immoral, irresponsible, and reprehensible.”
Approximately 96 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 80% don’t know they have it.
How do you feel about your overall health? Are you aware of your risk of prediabetes?
Prediabetes means you have a higher-than-normal blood sugar level. It’s not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes yet sufficient to be considered type 2 diabetes yet. But without lifestyle changes, adults and children with prediabetes are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. There’s good news, however. Progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes isn’t inevitable.
Eating healthy foods, making physical activity part of your daily routine, and staying at a healthy weight can help bring your blood sugar level back to normal.
“If soft drinks and sweets are no longer SNAP-eligible, corner stores and supermarkets will have more incentive to stock healthier foods.”
The US Department of Health reports calories in sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda can contribute to weight gain and lead to other health risks, including obesity, tooth decay, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
According to a Harvard Medical study, replacing one daily serving of a sugary drink with a healthier beverage was associated with almost a 20% lower risk of death.
Facing your health risks and issues can be scary and overwhelming but there are
Our friend and colleague, Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWC, FAND, is an internationally recognized nutrition, diabetes, and prediabetes expert. Let her Prediabetes: A Complete Guide help you “reset,” improve your overall health, and get yourself in better shape.
The USDA report Mark Rubio cites that 20 cents of every dollar spent under the benefits program go toward “sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts, salty snacks, candy, and sugar.”
“There is nothing compassionate or responsible about spending taxpayer dollars on empty calories that contribute to health crises,” Rubio stated.
We’re talking about ‘THE SWEETEST TABOO’ aka ‘SUGAR’ with musical inspiration from Sade.
Sugar is everywhere. But do we understand the impact it has on our diabetes health?
You may think of sweets, chocolate, sodas, table sugar, and perhaps fruit if asked to name sugary foods. But sugar also appears in savory foods such as ready meals, soups, salads, sauces, and ‘healthy’ foods such as breakfast cereals and yogurt. Furthermore, starches such as bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes also convert to sugar in our bloodstream, having the same impact on our bodies. These ‘hidden sugars’ can add a surprising amount to our daily intake.
Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Tameka Milline, Catherine Schuller, Kathy Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage’, and Stephanie MacKendree. Throughout the podcast, we will feature music from ‘The Essential Sade’ album courtesy of SONY Music.
Get drenched in a hefty dose of R&B and Soul with Crystal Penny as this musical duo has returned with another gem of a musical creation. Offering a punch of retro vibes and breezy tunes, their latest track ‘Standards’ is buzzing in the industry. This dynamic duo is best known for their exceptional vocal skills and sync between two which sounds a like single energetic entity. Let’s find out more about these talented music artists.
Crystal Penny is formed by Sisters Crystal Wilson Blackmon and Penni Wilson, the musical powerhouses who started music at an early age. They became seasoned music artists by their teenage and started performing as professionally as the Lovations. Their sheer individuality and the original essence of the soul could be noticed in their musical psyche. With the tunes and grooves of “I Keep Singing La, La, La, Oooh,” “I Want You,” “Later Baby,” and “Heaven Told Me So”; this duo came to Los Angeles to follow their dreams. After singing for legendary Motown Records, they have performed with numerous artists like Maurice White, Rick James, Diana Ross, Lou Rawls, Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions, and many others.
This dynamic duo has also appeared on OWN network’s reality TV show, “Flex & Shanice,” featuring Crystal’s daughter, Grammy-nominated recording artist Shanice Wilson, and her family. They have previously dropped a few songs like ‘My Vow to You’, and ‘My Heart Belongs to You’ that offer a redefined taste of soul music. Amid the global pandemic, with the help of fans from the UK; this musical duo started revolving at the center of attention with their timeless hit track “Keep Singing La La La Ooh.” It garnered over 350K views on YouTube and 150K Spotify streams.
Bringing back their original essence and the trademark soulful harmonies, the musical duo has come up with another new R&B and Soul track named ‘Standards’. Beautifully crafted and masterly produced by Ivan Hampden Jr., the track offers an amazing groove and an enticing musical experience. Not to mention, their eclectic vocals skills add more creative layers to the track. It is amazing to witness how two artists can be so much in control while complementing each other. This song is buzzing through all the major music platforms such as Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Music. Follow Crystal Penny on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get more updates on their upcoming musical projects.
