Meet Kareem and Claude: Men on a Mission to Make Vegan Wellness Accessible

Call it the unfortunate by-product of modern stressful living and unhealthy dietary habits, illnesses like heart diseases, diabetes, and obesity have become all too pervasive. Losing a close one to these diet-related illnesses is especially difficult when we know healthy choices, made at the right time, could have changed their lives. Going through a similar experience, Kareem Cook and Claude Tellis, two best friends from Duke University, decided to do something about it. This motivated them to pursue a journey making vegan wellness accessible. Read on to know about their inspiring venture.

You might also like:

• CRAVING FOR A TANGY HOT SNACK? BHELPURI FOR THE CALORIE CONSCIOUS
• THE PERFECT ACCOMPANIMENT FOR YOUR AT-HOME DATE NIGHT: DAIRY-FREE FALOODA
• ELEPHANTS IN INDIA REPORTEDLY GET THEIR FIRST HYDRO MASSAGE CLINIC
• VEGANS CALL PIE SHOP IN THE UK TO STOP DISPLAYING ROASTED PIG TO PUBLIC
• TOP 5 SUPERFOOD FOR VEGAN KIDS
• AMAZING VEGAN SNACK: STIRFRY TOFU AND VEGETABLE WITH SCRUMPTIOUS SAUCE
• BRITISH COMPANY ‘THE MEATLESS FARM’ COMES TO THE US VIA WHOLE FOODS
• CHRISTINA ANSTEAD SUFFERS FROM MAJOR HEARTBURN DURING PREGNANCY
• BETTER THAN MILK® LAUNCHES PLANT-BASED MILK BEVERAGES IN THE US

Meet Kareem And Claude: Men on a Mission to Make Vegan Wellness Accessible

Diet-related diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart ailments are rampant across the globe, and having a record of losing family members at the hands these diseases isn’t uncommon. At least it wasn’t for Kareem Cook and Claude Tellis!

Two friends, Kareem and Claude, who met while studying at Duke University, found they both experienced family members who had succumbed to diseases like obesity, heart ailments, and diabetes. It is then the new friends decided to make something out of their pain points. Something benefiting all Americans and specifically the African-American community.

While speaking during a podcast episode of ‘The Bottom Line,’ the entrepreneur friends, Claude Tellis and Kareem Cook, revealed some shocking details about their family members, and how tragically they were affected by diseases like diabetes.

“I had an uncle that went into the doctor, wasn’t morbidly obese or anything, lived in Louisiana and . . . the family was faced with, ‘Do we amputate both of his legs or not? He never made it out of the hospital. He died, and he was about 55 years old,” Tellis recalled during the podcast episode, FastCompany reports.

“You just kind of grew up with insulin in the refrigerator,” said Kareem Cook regarding the prevalence of peripheral artery disease and diabetes in the African-American community.

Making an Impact in Los Angeles

In 2002, when Kareem and Claude moved to LA, they discovered a child obesity crisis in the mega city and decided to do something about it. They then founded Healthy Body Products, a company of vending machines offering healthier options for children in public schools. The two men later co-led a movement which resulted in the ban of junk food at LA public schools. Within two years, the duo was awarded a contract for every public middle and high school in LA. This acted as a spring board for making an even bigger impact in curbing diet and obesity-related ailments.

“Why do people who need quality products have the least access to them?”

Naturade was a premium-tier natural food company available primarily via natural food and product stores. In 2012, Kareem and Claude bought the company for $8 million. Naturade’s mission aligned with their dream to impact the underserved populations, making healthier food accessible to them.

In late 2013, Kareem and Claude introduced VeganSmart, a plant-based meal replacement advocated by John Lewis, an internationally acclaimed vegan fitness expert. John explained the best way to prevent heart ailments, pre-diabetes, and obesity was via a plant-based diet. As a result, their No.1 seller was born.

The products are sold, not only in premium stores, but local supermarkets, health foods, and drug stores as well. This making it accessible to underserved and low-income communities. Kareem and Claude continue to impact Americans, and especially African-American communities, across the nation with the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle.

What do you think about the story of Kareem and Claude, college friends turned co-entrepreneurs working for the causes they believe in? Let me know your thoughts in comments.