Bronx, New York born Cuba Gooding Jr, was surrounded by the entertainment business. His entire family moved to LA after his father had a hit, Everybody Plays The Fool, with soul group the Main Ingredient. After high school, he landed a part in TV show Hill Street Blues; at 23, he won critical acclaim in the film Boyz N The Hood, followed by his Oscar-winning role as a high-energy football player in Jerry McGuire. Then, recently, he's recieved rave reviews for in the award-winning mini-series, The People Vs. O.J. Simpson.
Last year, Cuba had to deal with the death of his father who died at his Woodland Hills, California home at age 72, whom the two were very close.
Now, at age 50, many do not know that the beloved actor and father of three has a new role in real life: that of advocate and activist to raise awareness about kidney disease.
"Kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States, but is one of the most underfunded in research. FSGS (Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis) and Nephrotic Syndrome are some of the most devastating kidney diseases affecting children and adults. NephCure is the only organization in the world focused on raising money for research to get better treatments and a cure for these diseases. When I learned about these conditions I knew I had to do something. I'm proud to partner with them," Mr. Gooding said.
Kidney Disease Statistics
- Chronic kidney disease plagues more than 26 million Americans
- Nephrotic Syndrome is the leading cause of kidney failure in children
- Every day 12 people die waiting for a kidney transplant
- There is no cure for these conditions, and currently no standard of care.
- Treatments can include high-dose steroids and chemotherapy-type medicines.
- Even with these treatments, many patients progress to kidney failure within 5 years.
- African Americans are at a higher risk for kidney disease and are FIVE TIMES more likely to get FSGS than other populations.
"Numbers are important to underscore the urgency, but this is about more than numbers – it's about people battling to keep themselves, their spouses, their children alive. We need better treatments now for patients who are suffering every day," Mr. Gooding said. "The government gives very little money to kidney disease research, and we need to change how research is funded. That's why we need to support organizations like NephCure who lead the way as a catalyst for accelerating kidney disease research."
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Cuba takes his own health just as serious too. Since his award-winning role in Jerry McGuire, Cuba takes his same approach to getting and staying fit. His training diet is basically a...
...balanced eating plan rich in protein, complex carbohydrates and hearty healthy monounsaturated fats. His lean protein choices come from chicken, turkey and fish and assisted him in building lean muscle mass.
To fuel the actor’s body throughout the training for the role, he consumed complex carbohydrates that provided a steady release of energy. These food selections came from brown rice, sweet potatoes, and green vegetables. Cuba’s eating schedule called for frequent meals that were spread out every two to three hours to sustain a fast metabolism. This eating schedule also provided a consistent supply of nutrients and energy so that an anabolic, muscle-gaining state is achieved in the body. Gooding also drank water at each meal to ensure proper hydration throughout his training.
The common myth most people make when attempting to build lean muscle and lose body fat amounts is that they try to achieve both goals at the same time. Almost everyone who makes this mistake ends up getting nowhere fast. Instead both goals should be split apart and achieved separately. Typically a muscle bulking phase comes first where you pack on as much lean muscle mass as possible then following that up with a fat cutting phase while preserving lean muscle. It’s no doubt Cuba did it and continues to do it the right way.
