Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine

Special Feature: Hidden Sugars in Our Diet
What You Don’t See Can Harm You

Contents

ADVERTISEMENT:Owusuwaa Health Newsletter — In Partnership with The Leading Hair Senta A Vision Beyond Walls Gwen-Addo: A Catalyst for Change Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine This Week’s Guest Feature Hidden Sugars in Our Diet: Why It Matters and What We Can Do The Solution Lies in Our Roots Healthy Local Swaps Try This Recipe: Kontommre & Sweet Potato Stew What the Experts Say Real Stories, Real Change Local Resources & Where to Get Help Final Word from Serwaa Amihere Introduction Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine Dialogue: “Hidden Sugars in Our Diet – What You Don’t See Can Harm You”

Featuring: Gwen-Addo at The Leading Hair Senta
🗓️ Special Edition – Friday, July 25, 2025
📍 Read exclusively at assumptagh.live

For Gwen-Addo, community health, beauty, and wellness extend far beyond the physical space of The Hair Senta. Her mission focuses on empowering middle-class Ghanaians through accessible wellness, building a culture of belonging, and inspiring young people to see themselves as vital contributors to a healthier society.

She envisions business not just as a service hub, but as a community—where clients feel valued, supported, and genuinely connected. “Cultural exchange is at the heart of this vision,” she explains. “It creates ripples of connection that unite hearts.”

These “waves of connection,” as she calls them, are the foundation of social progress. “When people feel a true sense of belonging, the journey toward health and wellness becomes smoother and more sustainable.”

To Gwen-Addo, culture is a boundless force for health, development, and collective growth. She describes her model as “a community where people feel good—because their health and wellness come first.”

Gwen-Addo: A Catalyst for Change

Gwen-Addo wears many hats: business strategist, entrepreneur, author of the book Direction, and co-founder of Owusuwaa Weekly Health Magazine. She is also the founder and CEO of Hair Senta, HIBS-Africa, and TLS—The Leading Senta.

With a passion for transformation, her work is rooted in uplifting others and helping them unlock their full potential. Gwen-Addo is not just building businesses—she’s shaping a movement toward holistic wellness and empowered communities.

Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine

Issue FRI – July 25TH, 2025
Theme: Hidden Sugars in Our Diet – What You Don’t See Can Harm You

This Week’s Guest Feature

Gwen Addo — Certified Entrepreneur, Wellness Coach & Food Educator.
Hosted by Serwaa Amihere

In this week’s exclusive interview, Gwen Addo joins Serwaa Amihere to talk about how the hidden sugars in common Ghanaian meals are contributing to rising rates of lifestyle diseases. Gwen shares practical ways we can protect ourselves by returning to our local, nutrient-rich foods.

“It’s not just about cutting sugar. It’s about rediscovering the healing power of our traditional foods — taro, kontommre, sweet potatoes — and making them part of our everyday lives.”
— Gwen Addo

Catch the full dialogue on Owusuwaa Haelth Newsletter this Friday 25th July 2025 at Assumptagh.live/.

Hidden Sugars in Our Diet: Why It Matters and What We Can Do

Across Ghana, lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease are rapidly rising. A hidden culprit? The sugar that sneaks into our bodies through common staple foods.

Take white rice: Once digested, it’s converted into around 20 teaspoons of sugar — nearly the same as two cans of Coke! With diets increasingly filled with processed carbohydrates, this hidden sugar load is silently damaging our health.

The Solution Lies in Our Roots

Ghana is blessed with nutritious, plant-based traditional foods that promote health and well-being:

Taro (Kooko) – High in fiber, low in sugar impact

Sweet Potatoes – Packed with beta-carotene and slow-releasing carbs.

Kontommire: Rich in iron, calcium, and antioxidants

(Garden Egg Leaves) – Also rich in iron, calcium, and antioxidants

These foods have a low glycemic index, meaning they help regulate blood sugar naturally.

Healthy Local Swaps

Instead of…	Try This…
White rice	Steamed taro or boiled sweet potato
White bread	Whole-grain or millet bread
Sugary soft drinks	Coconut water or herbal teas

Try This Recipe: Kontommre & Sweet Potato Stew

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped kontommre (garden egg leaves)
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 tablespoon palm oil or vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Sauté onions in oil until soft.
Add tomatoes; cook until they break down.
Add sweet potatoes and cook for 10 minutes.
Stir in kontommre, season, and simmer until tender.
Serve warm and enjoy!

What the Experts Say

“The shift away from our traditional diets is one reason we’re seeing diabetes and heart disease affecting even young people. It’s time to go back to what worked.”
— Dr. Efua Mensah, Public Health Nutritionist

“Food is medicine. What you put on your plate every day can either help or hurt you.”
— Kwame Adjei, Registered Dietitian

Real Stories, Real Change

“Since I stopped eating white rice daily and started cooking kontommre and taro, my blood pressure has gone down, and I’ve lost 5 kilos in 3 months.”
— Akosua A., 47, Kumasi

Local Resources & Where to Get Help

Ghana Health Service – www.ghanahealthservice.org
Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (Nutrition Unit)
Wellness Ghana App – Free mobile tips & meal ideas
Local Farmer’s Markets – Fresh kontommre, taro, and more

Final Word from Serwaa Amihere

“The dialogue with Gwen will be eye-opening. We all need to pay closer attention to what we’re eating — not just for ourselves but for the next generation. Let’s make healthy the new normal.”

Introduction

Welcome to Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine – Issue # | July 25th, 2025

In this week’s issue, we dive into a topic that affects nearly every household in Ghana — hidden sugars in our diet. While many of us may not realize it, some of our most common staple foods are quietly contributing to the rise in lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

With processed foods on the rise and fast meals becoming the norm, it’s time to pause and ask: What are we really feeding our bodies? This week’s feature, “Hidden Sugars in Our Diet: What You Don’t See Can Harm You,” sheds light on this urgent health concern — and more importantly, what we can do about it.

We are honored to be joined by Gwen Addo — a dynamic entrepreneur, leadership and mindset coach, certified wellness and beauty coach, and respected food and brand educator. In an insightful conversation hosted by the ever-inspiring Serwaa Amihere, Gwen shares practical wisdom on reclaiming our health through local, plant-based foods and mindset shifts.

From smart local food swaps to a tasty Kontommre & Sweet Potato Stew recipe, this issue is packed with tips to help you take small but powerful steps toward a healthier lifestyle.

Let’s go back to our roots, one plate at a time.

Enjoy the read,
— The Owusuwaa Health Weekly Team

Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine

Issue– Friday, July 25, 2025
🎙️ Exclusive Dialogue Feature
Hosted by Serwaa Amihere | Guest: Gwen Addo

Dialogue: “Hidden Sugars in Our Diet – What You Don’t See Can Harm You”

Serwaa Amihere:
Good day to all our readers and listeners across Ghana and around the world. You’re warmly welcome to a very special edition of Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine. My name is Serwaa Amihere, and today, I have the honour of hosting a phenomenal woman whose work continues to shape the way we think about health, wellness, leadership, and community.

Our guest today is the inspiring Gwen Addo — a powerhouse of purpose and passion. Gwen is an entrepreneur, leadership and mindset coach, certified wellness and beauty coach, and a food and brand educator. She’s the founder of Hair Senta, HIBS Africa, TLS – The Leading Senta, and the co-founder of Owusuwaa Health Weekly Magazine. Her mission is simple yet profound: to uplift, educate, and empower individuals to live healthier, more intentional lives through practical wellness, cultural connection, and self-belief.

She also believes in health that begins within communities — not just in clinics or fitness centers, but in salons, schools, markets, and homes. Today, she brings that vision here, to our platform.

Gwen, welcome to Owusuwaa Health Weekly. It’s a true pleasure to have you.

Serwaa Amihere (continued):
Welcome, Gwen. It is said that the power of traditional foods lies not just in their taste, but in their timeless wisdom. Our ancestors relied on wholesome, unprocessed ingredients that didn’t just fill the stomach — they protected the body. Today, many of these same foods — taro, sweet potatoes, kontommre (garden egg leaves) — are making a comeback for good reason.

These foods have a low glycemic index, meaning they release sugar slowly into the bloodstream. This helps manage blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

What are your thoughts on this?

Gwen Addo:
Thank you so much, Serwaa, for that warm welcome — and let me say how grateful I am to be here on Owusuwaa Health Weekly. This conversation is long overdue, and I’m thrilled that we’re opening it up in such an accessible way for readers and listeners everywhere.

You are absolutely right. Traditional foods are not just cultural symbols — they are nutritional gold. For centuries, our grandmothers and great-grandmothers prepared meals that didn’t rely on chemical additives, sugar-laden sauces, or artificial enhancers. They cooked with intention, using the land’s resources to feed and heal their families. And what’s amazing is that modern science is only now catching up to validate what they already knew: these foods nourish at the cellular level.

For instance, kontommre, often overlooked, is packed with antioxidants and iron. When paired with something like sweet potato, which releases energy slowly and steadily, you’re creating a balanced plate — one that supports blood sugar control, gut health, and even mental clarity.

What I find most powerful, though, is that these foods are not foreign imports. They are ours — grown in our soil, shaped by our climate, and carried through our culture. So, when we return to them, we’re not just eating better — we’re reclaiming our health and our heritage.

Serwaa Amihere:
That’s incredibly well said. And I love that word you used — reclaiming. Because in truth, so much of what we now consider normal — like white rice with every meal, fizzy drinks, overly processed white bread — these things have slowly replaced the foods that once kept our communities vibrant and strong.

That brings us to your broader vision. You’ve often said that your work — whether through Hair Senta, TLS, or HIBS — is about more than products or services. It’s about creating a space where wellness, beauty, and leadership intersect. Can you share with us how your passion for food and health connects to your vision of community?

Gwen Addo:
Absolutely, Serwaa. You’re right — my work has always gone beyond selling a product or managing a business. I see every space I’m part of — whether it’s The Hair Senta, TLS (The Leading Senta), or HIBS Africa — as a platform for transformation.

For me, wellness isn’t limited to gyms or clinics. It includes how you think, how you eat, how you feel about yourself, and how supported you are by your environment. That’s why I often speak of “a vision beyond walls.” It’s about breaking the idea that wellness is exclusive or reserved for a privileged few. I want to bring wellness to salons, to schools, to women’s groups, to barbershops, and even to the market stalls.

At Hair Senta, for example, clients come for beauty services, but they leave with more than just a hairstyle. They leave with knowledge about healthy habits, tips on natural foods that heal, and sometimes even invitations to our community events where we talk openly about mental health, nutrition, and financial well-being.

My bigger goal is to build a culture of belonging — one where people don’t feel judged for their struggles but are encouraged to grow. I believe when people feel truly seen and valued, health becomes achievable — not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too.

Serwaa Amihere:
That is so powerful, Gwen. And it’s refreshing to hear someone say that wellness should be for everyone — not just for people who can afford diet plans or gym memberships. The idea that a hair salon can become a place for education and empowerment is visionary.

Let’s speak more about your idea of food as a connector, not just a commodity. In our feature this week, we look at how traditional foods like taro, kontommre, and sweet potatoes can fight hidden sugars. But beyond nutrition, these foods carry identity, memory, and meaning. How do you see food fitting into your broader cultural and wellness message?

Gwen Addo:
Beautiful question, Serwaa — and I’m so glad you brought it up.

For me, food is one of the most powerful tools we have to reclaim who we are. It’s personal. It’s political. It’s ancestral. When we cook kontommre or steam taro, we’re not just nourishing our bodies — we’re reviving a culture that’s been undervalued, even by us. Too often, Western or imported foods are marketed as superior, while our local dishes are seen as “old-fashioned” or “poor man’s food.”

But here’s the truth: those same local dishes are our greatest health protectors. And when we start seeing them that way, we also start respecting our heritage more. That shift in mindset is so important, especially for the younger generation. We need to show them that choosing kontommre over white rice is not only smart — it’s something to be proud of.

I call this a cultural wellness movement. It’s about aligning with our roots to move forward. It’s also why I co-founded this magazine — to help create a platform that celebrates both who we are and where we’re going.

Serwaa Amihere:
That’s incredibly insightful. And I must say, I’m now craving that Kontommre & Sweet Potato Stew from the recipe in this issue! It’s simple, affordable, and so healing. I love that your approach makes healthy living practical — not overwhelming.

As we wrap up this part of the conversation, let me ask: for someone who’s just beginning this journey — maybe they’ve relied on white rice, sugary drinks, and processed foods for years — where should they start? What small changes can lead to big results?

Gwen Addo:
I love this question because it speaks to the heart of what I teach: progress, not perfection.

If you’re just starting out, don’t pressure yourself to change everything overnight. Begin with one swap. Replace white rice with boiled sweet potatoes three times a week. Swap sugary soft drinks for coconut water or sobolo with less sugar. Start cooking kontommre once a week. These are small, sustainable steps.

Also, pay attention to how your body feels. Often, the improvement in energy, digestion, or sleep happens faster than people expect. And that motivates them to keep going.

But most importantly — build community. Don’t do it alone. Join wellness circles, talk to friends about recipes, follow pages like Owusuwaa Health Weekly. Because when we feel supported, health becomes joyful, not burdensome.

Serwaa Amihere:
That’s exactly the kind of encouragement we need. Gwen, thank you for sharing your wisdom, heart, and truth with us. This conversation will definitely help many people look at food — and health — with fresh eyes.

To all our readers, stay with us for more in this issue: a delicious local recipe, smart food swaps, expert tips, and real-life stories from Ghanaians who are choosing health one meal at a time.And don’t forget to catch Gwen Addo live this Friday at Assumptagh.live for more on Hidden Sugars in Our Diet