By Denver Louis, BlackVoices.com

The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) continues on its mission to bring sickle cell awareness to the masses. Each year, as part of its Be Sickle Smart Education Days, celebrities are pegged to tour and speak on the benefits of sickle-cell awareness. This year Ruben Studdard is involved with the movement and has been traveling the country bringing together sickle cell disease advocates and patients to share information about Sicke Cell Disease and iron overload caused by blood transfusions.

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a blood disorder common in African Americans that sometimes requires treatment with blood transfusions. However, many people with SCD themselves don't know that having 10 or more blood transfusions over their lifetime can lead to a serious condition known as Transfusional Iron Overload.

Black Voices' Denver Louis had a chance to chat with Ruben about the movement, his marriage and his musical career.

Foodies, meet Aaron McCargo Jr., The Food Network's new star!!!

He beat out thousands of culinary hopefuls on season four of 'The Next Food Network Star,' for the ultimate dream job – his own Food Network show. Dubbed "Big Daddy" on the reality show, Aaron brings an easygoing presence to the kitchen with his warm smile and passion for down-to-earth cooking. His new show, 'Big Daddy's House,' features simple, fun, and mouth-watering recipes that illustrate Aaron's love for big, bold flavors.

Recently, Blackvoices' own Denver Louis had the opportunity to speak to the Food Network's latest star and the newest African American chef on the block about his success and his new show.

By Shawn Johnson, BDO Staff Writer

(BlackDoctor.org) -- While African American women tend to have higher bone mineral density (BMD) than white women throughout life, they are still at significant risk of developing osteoporosis. The misperception that osteoporosis is only a concern for white women can delay prevention and treatment in African American women who do not believe they are at risk for the disease

Recently the American Heart Association released a study on the heart-friendly cities for women in the United States. The study, which is part of the Go Red For Women initiative, may surprise a few people. The study considered a variety of risk factors including obesity, smoking rates and general health statistics.

Black Voices own Denver Louis had a chance to speak to Dr. Jennifer H. Mieres, author of "Heart Smart for Black Women and Latinas: A 5-Week Program for Living a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle", about the study and some solutions to help prevent heart disease.

The results may surprise you...

For most young boys, if given a choice between playing football and washing dishes, the answer's simple... ditch the dishes. And for super chef, G. Garvin, the choice was simple indeed. But instead of getting on a the field, at the young age of just of 13, he shelved his football aspirations and took a job at Atlanta's Vining's Inn, where he washed dishes and soaked up the inner workings of a four-star operation.

At the age of 15, Garvin found his way to the Ritz-Carlton where he became the youngest cook in the downtown Atlanta hotel. He would hold summer and extracurricular positions there until he turned 18.

Ambition is no question for Garvin as throughout the 90's, he's served as executive chef at Morton's in West Hollywood, Kassbah in West Hollywood, and sous chef at Ritz-Carlton Palm Springs at the age of 23.

Recently Blackvoices.com had the opportunity to speak to the exceptional chef and host of "Turn Up The Heat with G. Garvin" on his new show and his tremendous drive to be the best chef on television.

Excruciating, sudden, unexpected, burning pain are amongst the variety of adjectives which have been used to describe the onset of gout. It primarily affects men between the ages of 40 and 50 and in the U.S., and it affects African Americans twice as much as Caucasians. The disease, which is a form of arthritis, can usually affect the big toe causing unparalleled swelling.

Maurice Cheeks, coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, knows all to well just how debilitating the disease can be. "The pain is indescribable though, there is no way I would adequately be able to describe it."

A typical sufferer of gout is obese and has a higher risk of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease... pretty much the trifecta of killer diseases. Gout has famously been known as the "disease of kings" as it is more common in affluent societies with more access to diets rich in proteins, fat, and alcohol.

Black Voices' Denver Louis got a chance to sit down with coach Cheeks as he strives to bring awareness to this painful disease.

Are you a fan of fatty foods, junk foods and pretty much most foods with no nutritional value? Well of course you are, who isn't?

Does your family have a history of stroke or heart disease?

If so than you may want to slow it down, because there's a good chance that you may be at risk and not even know it. Each year nearly 700,000 people are afflicted with some type of stroke. Of that number, 100,000 are African American. What's even more alarming though is that African Americans are twice as likely as other ethnic groups to have a stroke and that one half of all African American women will die from a stroke or heart disease.

Earlier this month, Grammy Award winner, Bebe Winans and "Hip Hop Doc" Dr. Rani Whitfield teamed up and have been actively campaigning for stroke awareness through the American Stroke Association's, Power to End Stroke Campaign