Health
Care
USDA’s New Dietary Guidelines: Healthier Choices in the Black Community
n an effort to reach the goal of a healthier America, the Obama Admi- nistration and U.S. Department of Agriculture have released the latest dietary guidelines for Americans. The release of the new guidelines is the latest attempt by the government to reduce obesity in America. “The 2010 Dietary Guidelines are being released at a time when
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the majority of adults and one in three children are overweight or obe- se, and this is a crisis that we can no longer ignore,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The bottom line is that most Americans need to trim our waistlines to reduce the risk of developing diet-related chro- nic disease.” One of the main ailments targeted by the USDA’s new guidelines is
heart disease, a sickness that affects a majority of African Americans. Bad eating habits and obesity go hand in hand and are major contribu- tors to the number of people diagnosed with heart disease in African American communities, especially African American women. According to a report published by the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, African American women have the highest rates of being overweight or obese compared to other groups in the U.S., and about four out of five African American women are overweight or obese. In addition, African Americans account for over 25 percent of all heart disease-related deaths. These statistics are unacceptable to some African Americans. Brit-
tany Jackson, a 25-year-old African American Tampa Police Depart- ment dispatcher, found herself taken aback after hearing the statistics on heart disease in the black community. “It’s really a shame that our community can be affected in that way by something we can control,” said Jack- son. “To lose someone to an act of violence is a sad enough, but to lose them to something that could have been prevented would definitely be more devastating.” The USDA’s new guidelines look to reduce
such incidences. Tips offered in the 2010 Di- etary Guidelines include advice to “consume more healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy pro- ducts.” However, one of the most stressed points in the new guidelines is the importan- ce of avoiding meals that are rich in sodium. Some believe the new guidelines will go a long way in fighting obesity and diet-related chronic diseases. “We as a country are way overweight and
I think these guidelines are a good first step,” said Jasmine Frank, a senior public relations student from Dayton, Ohio. “I think the pro- blem has finally gained the recognition it deser- ves and now it’s up to us to take advantage.” Source:
BlackPRWire.com
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www.blackeoejournal.com The Black E.O.E. Journal
“consume more healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products.”
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