Black Health
A new year has begun and some of our family and friends are not here to share it with us. For several reasons they did not live to see this present day. Some left us by accident, others by homicide, and others by debilitating diseases. While accidents and homicides take their toll on our population, too many of us die unnecessarily as a result of diseases that are absolutely preventable and curable.
Many years ago my father died of emphysema. A little over a year later, my mother died from kidney failure and a blocked intestine. Shortly thereafter, my brother had a leg amputated due to diabetes, and my sister eventually died from the same disease. Another brother suffered a stroke from high blood pressure, while another is on dialysis. If this sounds familiar to you, it is only because health issues like these happen not only in my family, but also in yours and Black families across America.
Black Americans disproportionately suffer deaths caused by disease. Although Blacks make up only 12% of the U.S. population, we lead the country in high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. The question that comes to mind is, "What causes this phenomena?" Is it racial tension, diet, physical inactivity or some other unknown factors?
My contention is that there is a link between our health disparities, racial tensions, and socioeconomic status. But I also believe that poor nutrition; our mental outlook and physical inactivity are the major factors in the demise of our health.
As life expectancy is an indicator of health it is staggering to know that just two years ago life expectancy for Black males was only 68.3 years as compared to 74.8 years for White males. According to A. L. Hixon, "Black Americans in contrast to White Americans have two times the rate of infant mortality, 40 times the death rate of heart disease, 30 percent higher death rate from cancer, seven times higher death rate from AIDS and six times the rate of homicide."
There is a saying, "When Whites catch a cold, Blacks get pneumonia." This statement presupposes that there are inequities in the health care of Blacks as compared to Whites. It also presupposes that racism plays a role in these inequities. While evidence has suggested that racism may be an under-researched culprit in our health disparities, one author is quoted as saying, "Racism is a social pathogen with biological consequences." Another author mentions that Blacks, in response to racism, experience hypersensitivity to the social environment.
The Tuskegee experiment has come to represent "racism in medicine, misconduct in human research, the arrogance of physicians, and government abuse of Black people." This experiment began to institute the mistrust of Blacks towards medical institutions governed by Whites.
Nevertheless, Blacks had no other alternative but to continue to subject themselves to the medical authorities that left them wanting. In spite of taking all of the prescribed medications, the prescribed diet, and following the doctor’s orders, the health of Blacks has plummeted. The current medical model has failed Americans and Black Americans in particular. The health of Black people will continue to decline unless we adopt another model of health care.
Our new model of health care must address our specific health issues physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." According to this definition, we have a lot of ground to cover to raise our level of health to meet this standard.
Physically, we must realize that our body is an energy system that requires fuel of the highest source. That is, the raw fruits and vegetables, sprouts, nuts, and seeds that were naturally created for our consumption. These foods fuel our body without producing the obstructions that are created by eating foods that are cooked, processed, and obliterated to make them palatable. We must also exercise vigorously to metabolize the foods consumed and stimulate digestion, respiration, circulation and elimination. The combination of proper nutrition and exercise allows the body to balance itself physically.
Mentally, our thoughts must be aligned with the outcome that we seek in all things. In this scenario, the outcome that we seek is optimum health. We must know and believe that the health that we seek is biologically imprinted into every cell. What we must do is maintain thoughts of health, wellness, and vigor to mentally communicate the message to our body that we are in agreement with its intent, purpose and desire to bring us health.
Emotionally, we must understand that the energy that we create is always in motion and must not be expended unnecessarily. In life we must seek balance and harmony at all times. When confronted by situations that would normally produce anger, jealousy, or envy, we must redirect that energy in a way that balances us, grounds us, and establishes us on the path to health.
Spiritually, the root of health is in deliberate and purposeful living. When life is lived on purpose it permeates us on every level. A focused life ties us to the life within ourselves and those around us. With the intent to live life to its fullest, we produce an energy that enables us to share our gifts and talents with the world. When this energy is cultivated, our body expresses it in a form of exuberant health not obtained by many.
With a new model of health, Blacks can reverse the health disparities that have crippled us throughout our history in America. Our solution does not call for new medical breakthroughs. Through perseverance and tenacity we can create health, wealth and welfare for our children and grandchildren. Concurrently, by starting with ourselves, we can eradicate the legacy of ill health in the African American community and pass on a model of unprecedented health for generations to come.
- Dr Romeo Brooks
back to News & Articles
Email Dr Romeo Brooks:
doc@rootsnutrition.com
