By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO
kmcneir@afro.com
Oluwatosin Oluokun, a first-generation Nigerian, wife, and mother of two young children, remembers the day when she first learned she had high blood pressure and accelerated cholesterol levels and would need to go on medication.
Her response, however, changed her life and set her on a path toward what has since become her life’s passion – healing through nutrition.
“About 10 years ago, a group of medical students volunteered to administer routine tests at my church, and I was shocked when my numbers showed that I had very high blood pressure,” said Oluokun, also known as “Dr. Ohhh,” who lives with her family in Bowie, Md.
“I was told that I would need to begin a series of low dose medications, but I was reluctant,” she said. “I contacted one of my best friends who is a pharmacist who said I might want to consider making dietary changes, like veganism and juicing, instead of using medication. I followed her advice and began both juicing and adhering to a plant-based, vegan diet for the next year.”
One year later, she no longer suffered from hypertension. In fact, her blood pressure and blood glucose numbers completely reversed.
“I followed a routine that embraced plant-based veganism not just being a vegan because there are some people who eat meat and are actually healthier than vegans if they’re still ingesting processed food,” she said. “Plant-based diets fulfill our essential nutritional requirements and it’s easy to remember – at every meal, you should have a ‘colorful’ plate.”
Those around her, including her friends, co-workers, and of course, her family, noticed the differences in her health, energy and lifestyle. Some even wanted to get on board. At the same time, Oluokun wanted to know more about nutrition. She returned to school and completed advanced degrees which culminated in a doctorate focusing on nutrition and dietetics.
“I had friends asking me to prepare juices for them, but I didn’t really feel comfortable with that at first,” she said. “Instead, I invited a few to my home.”
Oluokun demonstrated how certain fruits and vegetables, when mixed with certain herbs and taken regularly, could be transformative for one’s health.
“It never occurred to me that it would lead to me becoming a public speaker, a business owner and a health consultant. But my husband, who was very supportive, told me that I needed to take things as far as they could go,” she said.
Oluokun is now the founder of Dr. Ohhh Juice. She has distinguished herself as a certified weight loss specialist and clinical nutritionist. She is a health consultant with expertise in functional nutrition and holistic wellness. But it’s her personal testimony of how she took control of her health naturally, turned to juicing and, through her carefully crafted blends, successfully reversed her diagnosis, that have helped to grow her business and client base.
“I was frustrated with the lack of flavorful, nutrient-dense options in the market and so I began to develop my own recipes,” she said. “I wanted to show that ‘healthy’ can also taste delicious.”
Still, she’s aware that nutritionists differ on the pros and cons to juicing and juice cleansing, as indicated in a 2023 report by the Mayo Clinic.
“While juicing can provide some vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants it lacks the essential fiber and macronutrients (protein and fat) found in whole fruits and vegetables. And while juice can supplement nutrient intake, it should not replace whole foods and is generally considered less healthy because of the loss of fiber, the high sugar content in fruit juices, and the potential to disrupt beneficial gut bacteria,” the report summarized.
Oluokun said for her, juicing has made all the difference in her life, despite those who may disagree with its benefits.
Pandemic sparks increase in healthier lifestyles
When the Centers for Disease Control reported the first laboratory-confirmed case of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the U.S. from samples taken on Jan. 18 in Washington state, it immediately activated its Emergency Operations Center to respond to the emerging outbreak.
Oluokun noted that the surging interest in health consciousness which occurred as the virus spread would prove fortuitous for her business enterprise.
“I had several close friends who gave me valuable advice because I didn’t have a business plan and knew nothing about shipping products on a nationwide level,” she said. “But people were concerned about their health, understandably and things just fell into place. I launched the business on Sept. 19, 2019, which was a significant date as my youngest child, my son, was born exactly one year later.”
Oluokun recently served as the keynote speaker for the Governor’s Office of African Initiatives in Maryland and said such opportunities are particularly important to her because of her family roots.
“Working with groups who focus on the health needs of African and African American communities allow me to make a real difference for those from the African diaspora,” she said. “I’m right at home when I share my expertise with them, and they continue to respond with enthusiasm. But I like to remind people that other women of color have gone before me.”
“Madeline M. Turner patented a fruit press in 1916 and significantly improved the efficiency of juice extraction in an assembly line process, so I stand [on] shoulders like hers,” said Oluokun. “She was a pioneering African American inventor whose work continues to influence the juicing and smoothie industry.”
Oluokun said she still has a lot of work to do and goals to accomplish. And while she’s grateful for how she has been blessed, she said has one goal she has yet to fulfill.
“I want to ‘juice’ the planet, one bottle at a time,” she said.
For more information about Dr. Ohhh, her products, or services, visit www.Drohhhjuice.com.
