Let me tell you up front, this post comes from the heart… straight up (like Paula, ha!).

Every day we are given the opportunity to make choices. Choices that impact our lives and the lives of those around us. Those choices are as simple as our outfit of the day to something as complex as deciding between a job here or there. However, when choosing what to eat each day, the same level of thought we put into our clothing selection or job choice, is not imposed. We often go with what we have a ‘taste for’ or what we ‘feel’ like having. More often than not the decisions made on that criteria lead to the outcomes I am going to share.

Heart health is important to me on so many levels. The condition of our heart from a physical perspective affects how we function day-to-day, the emotional side of the heart I will save for another post. With that said, I find it intriguing to read published information as it relates to heart health especially regarding congested heart failure.

  1. More than half of those who develop congestive heart failure (CHF) die within 5 years of diagnosis. Heart failure contributes to approximately 287,000 deaths a year.
  2. Heart failure costs the nation an estimated $30.7 billion each year. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications to treat heart failure, and missed days of work. (Do you realize what this country could do with 30.7 BILLION DOLLAR A YEAR!)
  3. The incidence of congested heart failure is equally frequent in men and women, and African-Americans are 1.5 times more likely to develop heart failure than Caucasians.
  4. Common causes of heart failure are coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. It is more common in people who are 65 years old or older, African Americans, people who are overweight, and people who have had a heart attack. Men have a higher rate of heart failure than women.

The reason I find the information above so interesting and appalling is: our choices can easily change them. It is not necessary for 287,000 people to die each year from heart disease. High blood pressure and diabetes do not have to be the fate of melaninated people. There is a choice we can make and it starts with the food we eat. I know, you are probably saying – here she goes again. She is trying to convince us to be plant-eaters. Well, honestly —– I am not here to CONVINCE you of anything. I endeavor to provide information that will [hopefully] aid you in making better choices when it comes to your health and well-being. There is no reason for us to read such astounding information about sicknesses, when most can be prevented, reversed or eliminated by watching our mouth – literally and figuratively (what you eat and what you speak, but speaking is another post). I do not want this post to be too lengthy, so come back next week to pick up. This info matters! RESEARCH 😉

The information shared in this article is for educational purposes. It is not to diagnose or treat any illness. As the reader please do your own research (reference the links included), in order to make informed decisions about YOUR health and wellness.
Links to the statistics listed above:
  1. https://www.emoryhealthcare.org/heart-vascular/wellness/heart-failure-statistics.html
  2. https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_heart_failure.html
  3. https://www.emoryhealthcare.org/heart-vascular/wellness/heart-failure-statistics.html
  4. https://medlineplus.gov/heartfailure.html*http://www.dresselstyn.com/site/shifting-the-paradigm/
  5. **NutritionFacts.org