Eating healthy food is the single most important factor necessary to achieve and maintain good health. Foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds have not only nutritious value, but also medicinal substances with healing and disease prevention properties. Healthy foods can prevent many of the diseases that plague the African American community such as cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Benefits of Eating Healthy Foods:
Aides in recovery from illness ........ Rich in minerals/vitamins
Reverse the aging process ...............Low in calories
Boost the immune system ................Rich in antioxidants
Rich in fiber..........................................Rich in enzymes
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Positive Health Attitude
Having a positive attitude about your "health" starts with having a positive attitude about "yourself."
In my book "Eating to Die: Changing African American Attitudes About Health," I discuss how attitude affects our behavior in Chapter 5, "Attitude shapes Behavior."
Our attitude is the way we think, feel, or act that shows our opinion about something. Whatever attitude you have about your health, good or bad, is reflected in how well you take care of yourself.
When you have a positive attitude about yourself you are more likely to make healthy lifestyle choices, think of your life as valuable, and feel that as a human being you are worthy of the best.
When you have a negative attitude about yourself, consciously or subconsciously, you are not likely to value your life as something that is precious and deserving of care. As such, circumstances relevant to quality of life and making healthy lifestyle choices will not be at the top of your priority list.
Dr. Lottie
In my book "Eating to Die: Changing African American Attitudes About Health," I discuss how attitude affects our behavior in Chapter 5, "Attitude shapes Behavior."
Our attitude is the way we think, feel, or act that shows our opinion about something. Whatever attitude you have about your health, good or bad, is reflected in how well you take care of yourself.
When you have a positive attitude about yourself you are more likely to make healthy lifestyle choices, think of your life as valuable, and feel that as a human being you are worthy of the best.
When you have a negative attitude about yourself, consciously or subconsciously, you are not likely to value your life as something that is precious and deserving of care. As such, circumstances relevant to quality of life and making healthy lifestyle choices will not be at the top of your priority list.
Dr. Lottie
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Spice Up Your Life! Eat Less Salt and Sodium
Be a smart shopper.
Read the food label to find out more about what is in the foods you eat. This will help you choose foods to limit the amount of sodium you eat to 2,400 mg each day.
Size up your food. Compare the amounts you will eat to the serving size given. If you eat 2 cups and the serving size is 1 cup, you have to double the amounts of nutrients and calories listed.
Read the nutrition information. Use the Percent Daily Value to compare the amount of sodium among brands. Choose those foods that have lower values. One serving of this product contains 28 percent, or about 1/4 of the amount of sodium you should have for the entire day.
Size up your food. Compare the amounts you will eat to the serving size given. If you eat 2 cups and the serving size is 1 cup, you have to double the amounts of nutrients and calories listed.
Read the nutrition information. Use the Percent Daily Value to compare the amount of sodium among brands. Choose those foods that have lower values. One serving of this product contains 28 percent, or about 1/4 of the amount of sodium you should have for the entire day.
Buy foods with these claims more often. The food label may include terms such as:
sodium free
very low sodium
low sodium
reduced (or less) sodium
light in sodium
unsalted
sodium free
very low sodium
low sodium
reduced (or less) sodium
light in sodium
unsalted
How Many African Americans Have Diabetes?
National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS) conducted between 1963 and 1990 show that African Americans have a rising prevalence of diabetes. (Prevalence is the percentage of cases in a population.) Most African Americans with diabetes have Type 2, or noninsulin-dependent diabetes. Type 2 diabetes usually develops after age 40. However, in high-risk populations, susceptible people may develop it at a younger age. A small number of African Americans have Type I or insulin-dependent diabetes, which usually develops before age 20.
NHIS conducted from 1991 to 1992 indicate higher rates of diabetes among African Americans than among white Americans. At age 45 or older, the prevalence of diabetes is 1.4 to 2.3 times as frequent in blacks as in whites. The greatest difference seen in NHIS was among people aged 65 to 74. Figure 1 details these 1991-92 NHIS statistics. Statistics collected in 1993 indicate that in this age group, 17.4 percent of black Americans had diagnosed diabetes, compared to 9.5 percent of white Americans.
NHIS conducted from 1991 to 1992 indicate higher rates of diabetes among African Americans than among white Americans. At age 45 or older, the prevalence of diabetes is 1.4 to 2.3 times as frequent in blacks as in whites. The greatest difference seen in NHIS was among people aged 65 to 74. Figure 1 details these 1991-92 NHIS statistics. Statistics collected in 1993 indicate that in this age group, 17.4 percent of black Americans had diagnosed diabetes, compared to 9.5 percent of white Americans.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Health Tip: The Benefits of Regular Exercise
Decrease the risk desease
..helps control blood pressure
..helps control cholesteral levels
..improves heart and lung efficiency
..helps the body use blood sugar more efficiently
Improve well-being
..increases energy
..decreases stress level
..improves quality of sleep
Improve appearance
..helps control weight
..tones muscles
..boosts self confidence
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