Buried under the despair and hardship that we as a country have experienced in 2021, is sprouts of optimism for a promising 2022, rooted in health.
If the pandemic taught us nothing, it has taught us that as a nation, we need to improve our health. In the United States, 40% of adults aged 20 and over have obesity, and nearly 45% of Americans suffer from chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, which in most cases could be avoided by practicing a healthy lifestyle. I am providing this data as it was reported that 78% of ICU patients with COVID-19 had at least one underlying health condition, ranging from obesity to heart disease. In other words, while perfectly healthy people did get quite sick from COVID-19, these statistics show that those who suffered severe side effects from COVID-19 were those who unhealthy to begin with.
In 2022, let’s change this, and make it our mission, our New Years Resolution, as a country, to use our learned experiences from the past three years to better our health and ensure that we are better prepared for whatever pandemic or health crisis that may plague our nation moving forward.
With that being said, I am happy to announce that Jim Baker, owner and CEO of Sumus will be opening a tea shop, 50 CUPS, set to launch in the summer of 2022. This shop has two underlying themes that are tied together by the common goal of improving the wellbeing of all Americans by means of healthy drink and food options: our New Years resolution.
The first theme is simple; to promote well-being and health, which can be done through healthy food and drink. The second theme adds complexity and distinctness to 50 CUPS, as 50 CUPS will promote a victor not victim mentality; it is up to each individual to take personal responsibility for their wellbeing and health. 50 CUPS will assist individuals in taking on this responsibility by providing healthy and organic food and drink, as well as educational resources regarding health and wellness. Since you are only as strong as your weakest link, 50 CUPS will work to create an inclusive atmosphere where those who are just starting their health journey to those who are well on their way in this journey, all feel as though 50 CUPS is a space where they can work on themselves.
In order for 50 CUPS to align itself with this mission, 50 CUPS will be outsourcing their tea, coffee and baked goods from local and organic sources. In addition, each and every employee at 50 CUPS will be highly knowledgeable about the health benefits of every drink and food item that is served. Finally, 50 CUPS will be partnering with the community whether that be nonprofits, or local yoga and fitness studios to enforce the importance of community betterment.
Although small, the hope is that 50 CUPS can work to better the health of all Americans, thus conquering our country’s New Years resolution.
