”African Americans are more likely to die at early ages from all causes”, according to the CDC.Gov website.
Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke seem to plagued the African American community.
Why is this?
I started my health journey in 2005 shortly after my mother passed away.
I’d been living the good life to the tune of carrying 35 extra pounds on my tall, lanky 6’7” inch frame.
I tried hard to gain weight during my basketball playing days, but the weight would never stay.
After my playing days were over, it started to accumulate and I was in denial!
It took the “scare” of losing my mother before I straightened up my act.
The biggest challenge for me to reduce my weight was knowing what I should eat.
I grew up in a traditional southern family and eating ( good food) was everything!
How could I change my eating habits and still “taste” my food?
African Americans are big on seasoning food and if the food is supposedly healthy it has to taste good as well.
This is a blessing as well as a curse for most black people.
The changing of the diet is something many African Americans have a hard time doing.
Most will continue to eat the same foods they ate as a child into adulthood.
The AA diet consists mostly of heavy starchy foods, which are catalysts for weight gain.
There are many alternatives to eating these foods and changing the diet.
On episode #163,” Being Black On Keto”, I discuss the Keto Diet with Ron “Big Black Garrett”.
Ron discovered the Keto diet and was able to reduce his weight, reduce his health markers, and control his diabetes.
Ron and I also discuss why African Americans seem to be further behind the new diet trends.
Who is Ron Garrett
Ron Garrett began bodybuilding at an early age.
While bodybuilding, he followed the Standard American Diet.
As Ron got older, he found it was progressively harder to cut weight like he used to in the past.
He was later diagnosed as being pre-diabetic, and along with his diagnosis came debilitating joint pain.
Ron went on to discover the ketogenic diet.
He was able to improve his health markers and put his diabetes into remission using the ketogenic diet.
He now tells others about the benefits of the keto and uses it reach inner city youth and the African American community.
Inside The Episode
If I said this was an episode I have been wanting and waiting to do, it would be an understatement.
Since I started my health journey in 2005, I’ve wanted to shout for the mountain tops the importance of changing the diet for the African American Community.
I’ve had my own experiences either directly or indirectly with weight gain,cancer, high blood pressure,and diabetes.
I am appreciative of Ron Garrett being so open about his health journey and wanting to share with others.
What You’ll Learn
- Why is the African American Community so far recent diet trends like paleo/ Keto?
- Why do we love certain foods?
- Should the church play a role in nutritional education
- What does the body naturally crave?
- What is the outcome of the keto diet?
- How can you be more intuitive about your body?