November 11th, 2008
Hypertension and my black neighbors
Some 8,000 fewer black folks would die in this country this year if their blood pressure could be brought into line with that of their white neighbors.
That’s the headline number from a study released yesterday in the Annals of Family Medicine, but what you may not know is why and how we might change it.
A separate study of over 3,000 folks of all races showed low blood potassium levels correlating well with high blood pressure, and suggested black folks just don’t get enough potassium in their diets.
Why? One reason might be the identity of the best-known source of such potassium. Bananas.
Just saying the word can make you feel faintly racist, an old canard implying black folks are monkeys. (Actually monkeys like all fruit and bananas are not part of their native diet.)
But there are many other good sources of dietary potassium, and some of these might be enjoyed this Thanksgiving when your friends come home to their mothers. I know because I’ve seen these foods on neighbors’ tables.
Mustard greens, turnip greens and collard greens (not to mention kale). Squash. Tomatoes. Asparagus, broccoli and crimini mushrooms.
All the foods mentioned above are actually better sources of dietary potassium than bananas.
You don’t have to oversalt them, or go heavy on the pork fat. Don’t cook them quite so long. Try some olive oil, some lemon, even avocado oil — avocados are also high in potassium.
When you go home this Thanksgiving (or call your mother — you’re at least going to do that) ask for some recipes.
In an Annals of Family Medicine editorial it’s suggested that researchers examine “positive deviance” — habits of people in a high-risk group who follow uncommon, beneficial practices. We can learn from such people.
Quick, someone take the President-elect’s blood pressure and, if it’s as low as he acts like it is, maybe you should do more of what he does.
I like my neighbors and want to keep them around a long, long time. If you’re one of my black neighbors take care of your blood pressure, OK?
Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist since 1978, and has covered technology since 1982. He launched the Interactive Age Daily, the first daily coverage of the Internet to launch with a magazine, in September 1994. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 11/12/08
