BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The 1890 Center for Excellence for Nutrition, Health, Wellness and Quality of Life (COENHWQL) at Southern University Ag Center hosted a virtual seminar discussing the impact of health disparities in minorities.

The seminar took place on Wednesday, Oct. 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Pediatrician and Chief Medical Officer of Bring Back Louisiana Ronld Andrews, M.D. addressed factors such as mortality, life expectancy, burden of disease (morbidity), mental health, health insurance and access to care within minority communities.

Andrews said healthy food choices would prevent communities living in food deserts or areas without food markets or access to fresh fruits and vegetables from developing diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Solutions that could help improve nutrition could be giving people access to fresh produce, such as a church hosting a fresh market event or building fresh produce grocery stores.

Aside from access to fresh produce, Andrews said diet and exercise also play a great role in improving health in individuals within minority communities.