American Cancer Society's Body & Soul Program

What is Body & Soul?

Body & Soul is a health program developed by the American Cancer Society for African American churches. Body & Soul empowers church members to eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables every day for better health. Churches that embrace Body & Soul help their members take care of their bodies as well as their spirits.

African Americans are at high risk for many serious and often fatal diseases. These include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and many types of cancer. (Take a look at the Cancer Facts and Figures for African Americans.) A healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables promotes good health and can help lower the risk for these illnesses. Finding cancer early can also help save lives. Be sure you and your congregation are familiar with the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Screening Guidelines.

How does Body & Soul work?

Church members form a committee, then customize and run Body & Soul to fit the needs of their church. All of the information needed to create the program is provided in the program guide. You can draw upon the many talents of your church members to nourish and sustain your congregation as they move toward a healthier “body and soul”.

What are the benefits of Body & Soul?

Body & Soul congregations will embrace and celebrate good health through healthy eating and physical activity. Your congregation will:
 

• Learn how health and spirituality are connected
• Feel empowered to take charge of their health
• Eat more fruits and vegetables every day (Read the 5 A Day Cookbook)
• Live healthier in other ways, such as eating less fat and getting more physical activity
• Gain access to vital health information at the church

The Body & Soul Program

Making changes in what we eat is not easy. There are many factors that influence the way we eat. Body & Soul works because it addresses a combination of those factors. Key components of Body & Soul include:
 

• Pastor support and involvement.
• Church activities that promote healthy eating.
• Church environment that promotes healthy eating.
• Peer counseling.

Check out the latest quarterly newsletter to see what is happening across Indiana and Michigan.

The information presented on this page covers the Body & Soul program in the Great Lakes Division of the American Cancer Society. The Great Lakes Division covers the states of Indiana and Michigan.