Jasmine Leyva: The Invisible Vegan

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What s sad about it is a lot of people think it s the norm that s what I thought Diabetes was something my grandmother had and my mom was pre-diabetic so I thought oh diabetes and clogged arteries and high cholesterol they re just my destiny – that s a normal part of life because that s what I saw happening to everyone around me -Jasmine Leyva Heart disease diabetes and obesity have been rising at alarming rates all across the country but the numbers are disproportionately higher in African American communities There are many reasons that factor into why that is but the fact that we have an unjust food system is a big one Food desserts regions in urban areas where it is difficult to obtain affordable and fresh foods make it impossible for the people living in those areas to eat healthy and prevent diseases like those mentioned above Jasmine Leyva is an actress a filmmaker and the creator and director of The Invisible Vegan a full-length independent documentary that delves into the complex issues surrounding the unhealthy dietary patterns in the African American community The film shows how increased dependence on meat and fast food is rooted in the history of slavery 20th century socioeconomic inequalities and the rise of big food And it explores on the health and wellness possibilities that can be achieved through a plant based diet The film is packed with information history stories of transformation and interviews with African American vegans ranging from NBA legend John Salley to Cedric the Entertainer to Stic of Dead Prez If you haven t already seen it watch it Jasmine is a force of a human being she s inspiring wise and incredibly thoughtful I learned a ton from her film and from our conversation I hope you enjoy it as much as I did Jasmine s website https jasmineleyva com Jasmine s instagram https www instagram com jasmine c leyva hl es Jasmine s Twitter https twitter com jasmine c leyva The Invisible Vegan https www theinvisiblevegan com The Invisible Vegan on Amazon https www amazon com Invisible-Vegan-Cedric-Entertainer dp B07WF9L1JMClick here to visit this podcast episode