Prioritizing health for Black women is critical.
According to the Black Women’s Health Study (BWHS) at Boston University’s Slone Epidemiology Center, African American women are more likely than any other racial and ethnic group to die from cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, lupus and several cancers.
Further, according to a recent report from the Office of Minority Health, roughly four out of five African American women are overweight or obese.
“Being mindful of what we eat can save our lives,” said Kailasa Aqeel, communications and events manager at Common Good City Farm in Northwest, D.C.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those with healthy eating habits tend to live longer and are at lower risk for serious health problems, including heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Moreover, the CDC reports a balanced diet can help manage chronic diseases and prevent further complications.
While access to healthy foods remains a challenge many Black Americans face (Feeding America reported that nearly 22% of African Americans were food insecure in 2022), making conscious nutritional choices can contribute to Black women’s wellness overall.
“Now that I work at a farm I’m even more mindful of the practices that go into food production,” said Aqeel, a mother and member of the band Black Folks Don’t Swim. “I try to eat whole foods. Anything that is processed is going to diminish the nutritional value. Like instead of sweet potato chips or sweet potato fries, try actually eating a whole sweet potato. Just something like that can make a difference in your overall health and wellness.”