Sharonda Poma, Ph.D., knows a thing or two about why it's important to control food instead of letting it control you. You see, she grew up on extreme diets that didn’t work -- powdered shakes, starvation -- and oh yes, she heard constant critiques of her weight. Poma won the battle of the bulge, and after finding her way to a healthier relationship with food, she is on a mission to educate the black community on how eating well can literally change your life. Poma, a clinical nutritionist trained at Columbia University's Obesity Research Center in New York City, is the author of 'The Magic of Diet,' and has worked in nutrition for more than 15 years. So she definitely knows food -- inside and out. BV chewed the fat with Poma, and got the skinny on how we can eat to live well.

Why do you think obesity is so extreme within the black community compared to the larger society?
Economics has a lot to do with our obesity epidemic because it dictates our behavioral and environmental choices. African Americans with limited resources have a tendency to live in impoverished neighborhoods that do not provide the same amenities as more affluent neighborhoods. In many African-American communities, you find overpriced corner stores that lack fresh produce and other healthy food items. You also find an excessive amount of inexpensive fast food chains.

Then there is the issue of safety. Many of us don't feel safe walking in our neighborhoods or even exercising outdoors in our communities. Instead, we engage in sedentary behaviors such as playing video games, talking on the telephone, watching and eating in front of the television and mindless snacking.




In your clinical work, what is the biggest challenge for black patients -- and what's the best way to address it?
Type 2 diabetes is the biggest thing I'm seeing -- along with pre-diabetes and hypertension. I get a lot of people with both Type 2 diabetes and hypertension, and I’ve treated a lot of black men with high PSA levels, which are indicative of prostate cancer.

In terms of Type 2 diabetes, people need to eliminate the refined carbohydrates -- what I call "the whites": white sugar, white flour, white rice, white bread and white salt. They need to increase their intake of vegetables, fruit and lean sources of protein. A lot of people have become insulin resistant, which is why they have diabetes, so they need to change the way their bodies process sugar and they can do that through dietary change.

In terms of high blood pressure, again increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables, adding essential fatty acids -- the good fat -- and reducing sodium intake are most important. Get rid of the ham hocks and fatback!




What is the single most harmful thing about fast food today and why?
The trans fatty acids -- they're also called trans fats. The reason why is that they increase your LDL cholesterol [the bad, artery-clogging cholesterol] and they decrease the HDL, which is the protective cardiovascular cholesterol.

Trans fatty acids are in partially hydrogenated oil, which is used in most fast foods -- french fries, fried chicken, anything that’s deep-fried – and in over-the-counter pre-packaged foods like snack foods and chips. According to the National Academy of Science, there is no safe level of trans fatty acids! Scientists have shown that they promote heart disease and other health conditions linked to heart attack, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.

Why hasn't the fast-food industry started using other oils?
For one, it's a supply-and-demand issue. It will cost millions of dollars for them to switch -- and in terms of a McDonald's, it would entail it revamping its whole system. The company is afraid that switching oils will change the flavor of its food and decrease demand for it. But, we also see companies like Frito-Lay that are being proactive. Frito-Lay has begun using nusun, a trans-free oil derived from sunflower seeds.




In terms of nutrition, what is the one thing that you would have brothers and sisters keep in mind at all times?
Portion control! I’ve notice throughout my career -- and in my personal dealings with friends and family -- that we as African Americans have this ‘bigger is better’ mentality. We equate large portions with better value and we tend to frequent establishments that cater to that sentiment -- in other words, buffets, family-style restaurants and fast-food chains. We have to stop consuming in large quantities! If we proactively monitor our portions, we can easily eliminate hundreds of extra calories from our diets on a daily basis.




What is the best thing parents can do for their kids in terms of a nutritional legacy?
Good question! Two things come to mind when I think about this question. First, parents need to stop forcing food on their children. When dealing with toddlers and young children parents should give them the freedom to decide when they’ve had enough to eat. In other words, don’t force them to eat more than they feel comfortable with.

The second thing that parents can do for their children is to model healthy eating behaviors while in their presence. When parents frequent a fast-food establishment and constantly expose their child to this type of eating, the child embraces this pattern and emulates it throughout his or her life. However, if a parent always makes fresh fruits and vegetables available, and consumes them on a regular basis, kids will learn to enjoy these same items and adopt these habits as their own.




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