The wellness industry often caters to white, affluent, and able-bodied communities. Black people and other people of color are often excluded, despite the fact that many wellness practices are from their cultures and traditions. Last year, CBS News reported that more than 40 percent of Black-owned businesses in the United States shut down during the pandemic. It’s more important than ever to support a Black-owned business. Whether you’re a gym newbie, a wellness guru, want to try out protein powders, supplements, or incorporate elixirs into your daily routine, we’ve rounded up some great Black-owned wellness brands that are worth the money and support.
Golde
Created by CEO Trinity Mouzon Wofford in 2017 in Brooklyn, New York, this brand features both food and beauty products, all with superfood ingredients. Wofford is the youngest Black woman to ever launch a brand at Sephora in 2019. Golde offers three types of superfood latte blends — turmeric, cacao, and matcha that aren’t only delicious but also aid digestion, promote glowing skin, and provide a much-needed energy boost.
Muniq
Muniq was founded by Marc Washington after the loss of his younger sister Monica. “Inspired by her memory, I set out to create better nutrition solutions that she would have loved, created with a deep scientific foundation based on the power of the gut microbiome,” says Washington on the website. Muniq includes 15g of prebiotic resistant starch fibers, a special class of prebiotic dietary fiber powered by green bananas, which resists digestion to effectively feed your gut. This form of prebiotic fiber is very difficult to get elsewhere in your regular diet, and it shows greater advantages compared to other prebiotic fiber forms, fulfilling 50% of your daily fiber needs.
The Honey Pot Company
Founded by Bea Dixon, The Honey Pot Company provides herb-based feminine care products. Bea was inspired to make products that protect and balance the vagina’s natural flora and ph balance after suffering from bacterial vaginosis. The Honey Pot’s offerings include feminine wipes, washes, pads, tampons, and menstrual cups, all of which are organic, clinically tested, and gynecologist-approved. “One night, an ancestor visited me in a dream and gifted me with a vision to heal myself,” says Dixon on the website. “With her help, I created the Honey Pot Co. to solve for what other brands wouldn’t, using the power of herbs.” The brand also partners with Happy Period, an organization that provides menstrual hygiene kits to help give women in need the dignity they deserve.
Body Complete Rx
Body Complete Rx founder Samia Gore is a busy mother of four who couldn’t find plant-based supplements on the market that worked for her. After consulting a team of experts and Black female nutritionist Dr. Ruby Lathon, she launched her company with the hopes of helping others get all the vitamins and minerals they need to live their healthiest lives. Body Complete RX offers a complete range of plant-based products specifically designed to meet your individual wellness needs so you can discover what it is like to look and feel your best and truly start living. Gore is a part of the Vitamin Shoppe Wellness Council as a supplement industry pioneer.
Peak and Valley
Founded by Nadine Joseph in 2019, Seattle-based Peak and Valley make adaptogen blends designed to lift your mood, help your focus, and nourish your skin. All of the ingredients are organic, vegan, and ethically sourced. “I wanted high purity/potency, as well as ingredients farmed with an eye towards mindful practice,” said Joseph on their website. “That’s a pretty hard thing to do, and it took me a very long time to find suppliers and farmers that I trusted. One day, I took a step back and looked at all the work I had put into this, and realized that I really wanted to share my findings and research with others. And so, Peak and Valley was born.”
VeganSmart Nutritional Shake
VeganSmart All-In-One Nutritional Shake is a complete protein blend that contains everything you need in just one serving. Founders Kareem Cook and Claude Tellis became best friends while attending Duke University and because they had family members that passed from diabetes, heart disease, and other obesity-related illnesses, they founded this company. In 2012, they acquired Naturade, a premium level natural products company founded in 1926 and distributed primarily in natural food and product stores.
Source
Boitumelo Masihleho is a South African digital content creator. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes University in Journalism and Media Studies and Politics and International Studies. She’s an experienced multimedia journalist who is committed to writing balanced, informative and interesting stories on a number of topics. Boitumelo has her own YouTube channel where she shares her love for affordable beauty and lifestyle content.
