SHAMYRA SYLVESTER grew up making food in what she describes as “survival mode.” She recalls eating “what was traditionally available,” which usually happened to be highly processed, unhealthy foods that were inexpensive and quick to whip up. It wasn’t until she moved to Atlanta after finishing college that she discovered the power of nutrition and how significantly it could affect her quality of life
“My roommate in Atlanta came from a wealthy, highly educated home that was extremely health conscious,” says Sylvester. Through examining her roommate’s choices, like purchasing fresh produce and limiting processed foods, she began considering her own nutritional habits.
Later, when Sylvester moved to Washington, D.C., to attend graduate school, she was exposed to more avenues of prioritizing her health. “As I was walking around my new neighborhood, I stumbled upon a juice bar owned by a Black woman,” she recalls. “I had no idea what a juice bar was!” Through conversation, Sylvester found out that the proprietor had opened the shop after her mother was diagnosed with cancer to provide healthy options in the area.
After frequenting the spot nearly every day, Sylvester bought a juicer and began experimenting with ingredients. By the time the COVID-19 pandemic prompted her to move back to Mobile, she was eager to share her newfound knowledge with her family and community.
“I started making juices as a side hustle, but the demand grew so fast that I decided to take a year off from work and pursue this full-time,” she says. That was in November 2021. Juice has been her job ever since. In February 2023, she opened a storefront in downtown Mobile, Ginger and Spice (@gingerandspicelife).
Her shop not only provides fresh and affordable food options, but it also serves as a space to learn about the importance of nutrition. “There is definitely a lack of accessibility and education surrounding health in the South,” says Sylvester, who is determined to change that, beginning in her hometown. “Our motto here at Ginger and Spice is ‘Every healthy tree bears good fruit.’”
You might expect your tresses to gray over time, but as you grow older, it’s also common for them to appear thinner, notes Dr. Christopher Sayed of the UNC School of Medicine. “[This] is partly from the loss of hairs over time, but the individual strands also become thinner in diameter,” he says. “Each one naturally cycles through active and resting phases. As we age, the length of the active phase shortens, resulting in hair that does not grow to the same length it did earlier in life.” As for how to protect it? While the occasional use of dye is typically fi ne, you should exercise caution when it comes to frequent chemical treatments or those that require high heat. “They can contribute to fragility and breakage,” explains Sayed.
LEFT TO RIGHT: COURTESY CHAD RILEY; COURTESY UNC SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
