African Americans have struggled for good health. Your own lifestyle includes practicing habits that are not conducive to good health. It is this lifestyle that is causing many to succumb to disease and ill health. Considering how many have been purchased, it’s no wonder good health isn’t a priority.
I spent part of my childhood with my relatives. Most were overweight, loved to eat, and exercised little. I didn’t find it strange because it seems part of the culture. And since many of them knew how to cook, it was difficult not to eat and enjoy the taste. In other cultures there is more emphasis on eating healthy foods (such as very little red meat, a lot of fish and vegetables). This is not common among black families.
There are many reasons why black Americans have traditionally been exposed to poor health habits. Many times their parents and grandparents were subject to bad eating habits. This made certain health conditions more apparent.
1) Some blacks grew up in the South, where commonly eaten foods are full of salt, fat, and elements that tend to increase blood pressure. The food is very seasoned and very tasty.
2) Obesity was the norm with irregular exercise habits. Eating was common, but developing an exercise program was not. It is impossible to eat as many do without exercise and in good health.
3) Bad Exercise Habits: Some estimate that 3% of black Americans go to a gym. This helps explain why it is so common for blacks to be out of shape. This does not mean that everyone is, because there are some who are definitely serious about personal health. But overall, more people would be better off exercising to work for better health.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, blacks have:
A) 13.8% who live in good or bad health
B)% of men over 20 who are obese – 37.5%, women – 56.1%
C)% of men older than 20 years with hypertension -40.5%, women – 44%
D)% of blacks under 65 without health insurance – 12.1%
E) Main causes of death: heart disease, cancer and unintentional accidents
Health is important because being in poor health makes living a great life very difficult. African Americans must learn from other cultures how to cultivate a healthy lifestyle so that it can be passed on to the next generation.