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Obesity, Lifestyles and African Americans - What are the
Correlations?
By Makeisha Lee, Black Health Consultant
Eating is one of life’s greatest pleasures. The taste, smell, the
texture, how it makes us feel, can be a great source of satisfaction
for us all. However, this very thing that is so pleasurable can be a
danger to us if not kept in its proper place.
We can enjoy food but the primary job for food is to nourish our
bodies. When we don’t have the right balance of foods and don’t have
adequate exercise we end up with “obesity”. Obesity is more common
in African Americans than other ethnic groups.
According to the CDC of Vital Health Statistics, 60.1% of
African-American males are overweight and 78% of Black women
lead the population in obesity and being moderately overweight.
In order to get to a solution, we must identify the problems.
Since we're specifically looking into facts surrounding Blacks and
obesity we must address issues indicative to our community as we do
have some unique concerns. For African Americans there tends to be
certain factors that play a role and influence our food choices such
as our history, religion, our culture, friends, family and
environment. Lets discuss three in particular.
First, is our culture. Studies show African Americans tend to accept
larger body sizes. On one hand it’s a good thing but it ends up
hurting us more because our tolerance of these larger sizes has lead
us to be more obese and subsequently left us with more
obesity/health related illness. We also tend to feel less guilty
about overeating thus making it less likely for us to diet.
Second, is our environment including what seems to be available to
us, and the cost associated with our choices in food. In our
neighborhoods, we have these fast food carry-outs on nearly every
corner and mini markets that only offer us fried fatty foods laden
with sodium. Then there is processed foods and sugar filled drinks
to wash it down with.
Third and lastly, one of the most important culprits is our family
and upbringing. What we're taught as children from our families sets
the tone for us in regards to our food choices. Many of our families
do not make nutrition a top priority. So this gets passed down
generation after generation. For us, our family tradition as a
community is “soul food”. Nothing is wrong with this tradition in
and of itself, but there is a problem for our less active lifestyles
these days in combination with the fact that this soul food diet is
laden with high fat content, sugar, and sodium for flavor.
So continuous consumption of these foods without adequate exercise
causes our body's nutritional system to get clogged up, confused and
stuck in fat storing mode. But not to fret my brothers and sisters -
we don’t have to give up our tradition of enjoying soul food, we
just have to make some much needed adjustments.
If we have had these unhealthy eating habits, we must begin to
correct this by cleansing our bodies to naturally remove harmful
substances and allow it to return to it’s normal metabolic function.
Cleansing will enable us to overcome food cravings, and re-establish
natural hunger so we can cultivate a true and balanced appreciation
for food.
Once we have done this, we just have to modify how we prepare our
food by cutting back on the fat, use alternatives for white
processed sugar, and switch to sea salt instead of table salt to
decrease sodium. Even these small adjustments can make a difference
and you can still have great tasting food. In fact, cooking with
natural foods organically grown is the best option for nutritious
and flavorful food.
As a side point: Significantly decreasing your intake of fast foods
while increasing physical activity and exercise will be an added
benefit overall. So hopefully thru more education and awareness on
this matter of obesity, this trend within our community can be
reversed and we all can feel healthier, more energized and better
equipped to enjoy life’s possibilities!
Makeisha Lee is a health and nutrition consultant. For more
information about cleansing and detoxifying your body, contact her
at 614-595-1425 or makeisha@cleanseformula.com or learn more at
www.CleanseFormula.com
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