USC, UCLA set rivalry aside to fight heart problems in LA

The Center for Population Health and Health Disparities (CPHHD) at USC and UCLA are making a combined effort to take on cardiovascular diseases in Los Angeles.

The organization, which came up in May 2010, is currently examining eight grocery stores in the eastern part of the city as part of its efforts to provide healthy food items in the area. Organic foods and vegetables have been made available in general stores, where, earlier, canned sodas and cigarettes were being provided.

To bring about this change, the organization covered about 150 stores and spoke to their owners, customers and neighbors to understand the food dynamics in the region. The changes to business owners were now suggested and they accepted it after much deliberation.

A transformation can be seen, for example, in the “YASH The House,” which was a traditional grocery and liquor and snuff store. It now houses fresh vegetables and fruits from surrounding farms and grown organically. The vegetables include cauliflower, peppers and green beans.