TRYWELL Is Combating Nutrition Gaps in the Black Community

There is a lack of diversity in many industries, especially in the wellness space. Black people are often overlooked, and all too often, they don’t have access to the foods and nutrients that best serve them. Previously, there were not many brands that spoke to the Black experience in wellness. Mother-son duo Kathy and Tashon Thompson are working to change that. They founded TRYWELL, a game-changing supplement brand , to address health inequities and bring color to the wellness space.

“We have to save ourselves,” Tashon said. “We have to create spaces, rooms, and brands that kick down the doors in these industries and create change.”

Not many people know about the nutrition disparities the Black communities face. Here is a look at some of those nutrition gaps and how TRYWELL is working to combat them.

Food Deserts and the Impact on the Black Community

There’s been a growing movement of Black women becoming homesteaders living off the land. This is more than just a trend, but a fight for justice. Black people often live in food deserts , or areas where there are high rates of poverty and few or no grocery stores selling fresh food. Through farming, Black people are making fresh, healthy food accessible to Black and Brown communities.

Food deserts, coupled with the lack of diversity within the wellness space, create the perfect storm for a nutrient deficient amongst the Black community. The founders of TRYWELL sought to remedy this.

“During the pandemic, I began looking and researching brands, and I didn’t find anything that I connected with,” Tashon said. “No brand showed or represented Black people, and most brands focused on white consumers.”

Tashon and Kathy spend time researching the disparities within the healthcare system and the wellness space. Mistrust and abuse within the medical system has always been an issue for the Black community.

“This dates back to the Tuskegee study and continues today with the alarming maternal mortality rate amongst Black women,” Tashon explained. “The research let us know we needed more people that look like us to speak to the issues and to present solutions,

Diet causes the greatest number of gaps in nutrition in the Black community. This includes heavy amounts of sugar, fats, and meat, as well as low quality or minimal fruits and vegetables. These things result in higher rates of heart disease, obesity, and stroke. Out of that need, TRYWELL was born. The Thompsons created a company that promotes health and wellness, while showcasing the beauty and resilience of the Black spirit. TRYWELL emphasizes preventative versus reactive care.

The Story Behind TRYWELL

Addressing the nutritional gaps commonly faced in the Black community didn’t happen overnight. The Thompson’s first step to launching TRYWELL was manufacturing.

“We did extensive research on supplement factories and found two (one in New Jersey and one California),” Tashon said. “It was important that our gummies met a certain efficacy level and went through vigorous third party testing.”

The next step was taste. All TRYWELL vitamins are made with high-quality ingredients. The products are pectin-based, vegetarian, as well as naturally-colored and flavored. The first gummy the TRYWELL team created was VITAMIN D because almost 89 percent of African Americans are Vitamin D deficient. Next, they established the remaining assortment, and every few months, they’d introduce a new vitamin gummy.

Lastly, the team focused on photography and storytelling. With Tashon’s marketing and fashion background and his mom’s higher education background, they designed and developed eco-friendly packaging. They chose pouches instead of the traditional vitamin bottle as it uses 80 percent less plastic.

The Thompsons also wanted to showcase the beautiful Black and brown men and women who the wellness industry often overlooks. When Tashon researched vitamins, he typically either saw older people or young, happy white people.

“I didn’t see melanin,” he said. “That was our goal – to magnify the beauty of the Black experience while protecting it through health and wellness.”

The Future of Wellness

When it comes to diversity and equity, Tashon explained that the world took three steps forward during the pandemic with the Black Lives Matter movement. Four years later, the Black business focus and the support has dwindled.

“Representation is scarce,” he said.” But there are still beautiful, mission-driven companies and brands making strides.”

Body Complete Rx by Samia Gore is a plant-based supplement brand that the team at TRYWELL loves. There’s also Freedom Apothecary , a NOLA-based retail concept store that focuses on Black-owned health and wellness. They also carry TRYWELL.

Tashon believes more Black-owned health and wellness brands are needed, but it’s a slow process.

“When you know better, you do better,” he said. “But also, when you see better, you want better.”

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