by Paisley Place

Created on: May 30, 2007

The understanding of overall health of African-Americans requires study into the diet of this ethnic group. The ingredients of most dishes famous among African-Americans are full of high fat, high-cholesterol, high sodium, high-calorie, and heavy sweets. These ingredients contain everything to clog the heart, cause strokes, low-birth weight in babies, and other major health problems. As minorities, most African-American families earn considerably less than other ethnic groups. The foods tend to cheap and cook well together usually in heavy grease and the least healthy parts of animal products.

In order to improve the health of African-Americans, it will take education regarding nutritional changes. The foods currently cooked need transforming into some lighter version of the former meals. Most are against these changes claiming it changes the taste and is too expensive to make the dishes in such a manner.

The changes need direction toward the children of African-American families since children are less set in their ways. It is easier to change bad habits with younger children and young adults than it is with middle-aged and older adults. The more educational programs available in the school system and daycare system, the easier it will be to change the future for the African-American race when it comes to overall health. It will take a few generations for the major changes to begin to take affect but it will happen with institution of healthier diet programs today and not later. Later is simply too late to help the generations possible if we begin today.

Higher learning education, nutritional education, and an adequate exercise protocol program available to all age groups will significantly reduce obesity, high occurrence of diabetes type I and II, stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure among this ethnic group. Education of the children and grandchildren of today and tomorrow will make grave changes in the lifespan of the average African-American person.

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