I am extremely concerned about the epidemic levels of obesity and heart disease in Trinidad & Tobago. According to the Ministry of Health, the country has the highest prevalence, high morbidity and mortality rates for chronic non communicable diseases in the whole Caribbean!
These rates have been steadily increasing over time with heart disease, cancers, diabetes and strokes among the top FIVE leading causes of deaths in the country. Taken together, heart disease, cancers, diabetes and strokes account for over 60% of all deaths annually.
SERIOUS HEALTH CONCERNS
People are dying from diseases they are able to prevent through proper diet and exercising. I believe we need to seriously reevaluate our lifestyles. Do we want to make a shift in our mindset and make the necessary changes that will help us in the long run?
I would love to help as much as I can. Is the consumption of a few pieces of a dead bird soaked in oil really worth our risk for cardiovascular diseases? Leaving our own children orphans?
This isn’t joke anymore, we know that. The leading cause of death in this country is heart disease.I am not talking congenital diseases here but clogged arteries, strokes, illnesses related to bad diet and sedentary lifestyles. We see people in their 40’s… 50’s…. Dying of heart attacks.
STATISTICS
According to the Pan American Health Organization the nutritional habits of the population of the Americas including the Caribbean are changing (And not for the better). Increasingly people are consuming fewer fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and cereals. They are replacing them with processed foods, milk, refined cereals, meat and sugar (The silent killer).
Trinidad & Tobago Final Report PanAmerican Health Organization
The end result comes at tremendous economic cost to the nation. As a matter of fact, according to the Inter-American Development Bank in 2014, a US$110 million loan was approved to help reduce the risk of obesity and overweight among 260,000 children and adolescents in the country.
US$110 Million Loan To Fight Obesity In T&T
Food choices are literally killing the population, socially and economically. The prevalence of people stating that they eat less than 5 servings of fruits and veggies per day was 91.0%.
Trinidad and Tobago has emerged as the top Caribbean country whose adult population is obese (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization).
The results of the STEPS Chronic Disease Risk Factor Survey, (MOH/PAHO, 2011) revealed that more than half of the population (55.5%) were overweight or obese. Over 40% do not get sufficient physical exercise weekly and daily consumption of fruit and vegetables was low.
STEPS Chronic Disease Risk Factor Survey
TAKING CHARGE OF OUR HEALTH
We are social creatures, and we all love food but the choices we are making as adults are affecting children tremendously.
According to the former Minister of Health, Dr. Fuad Khan, the overweight or obese category among primary school children was approximately 11 percent in 1999. A 100 percent increase was recorded when, ten years later, in 2009, the level was 23 percent.
He also stated that he had lost 29 pounds. The weight loss came on the heels of seeing himself in a photo in the press. And this isn’t about looks no… we cannot continue down this path when our lives are at the stake and the lives of our loved ones.
This is about taking charge of our health . So we can be able to function properly without running out of air, struggling to leave our own cars, or playing with our children or nephews.
This is about US and our LIVES. We are worth it!
MAKING CHANGES
Change does not take place overnight I know but if we are willing, we can make the necessary changes little by little. We need to start moving towards the right direction as soon as possible.
Vegetables and fruits should be our main staples. Eating a plate of vegetables IS a meal. Eating a big bowl of fruits in the morning IS breakfast.
We need to set aside some misconceptions that tells us that unless we have meat in our plate, we are not eating a good and tasty meal. The mindset that tells us that if something is not loaded with cheese isn’t good enough. The mindset that tells us that more pepper and more ketchup we put in the food, the tastier it is.
All of these things are killing us and our families. It is killing our hearts, causing high-levels of cholesterol to alarming rates, diabetes, and so many other diseases. But we still insisting in eating the same foods, even getting triple-pass heart surgeries is not stopping us from changing our lifestyles.
COMMON ILLNESSES CAN BE PREVENTED
It might be strange to hear this, but common illnesses can be prevented. If you are eating the right foods, you are not going to get sick. I can testify of that. It may be surprising but I cannot remember the last time I have been sick, it has been years. No flu, or a simple runny nose, upset stomach or a sore throat. Nothing. Nada.
You can also prevent illness by changing the way you eat and it does not have to happen overnight. The process might take months or years. I assure you that if you make the right choices with your food and exercise, you will feel healthy, amazing and with a lot of energy. You will be able to do anything you want without ever feeling tired or “lazy” after eating.
Contrary to popular belief, Vegan foods can be extremely satisfying and tasty with the amazing adding bonus of being cruelty-free.
You will never ever feel hungry but you will be feeding your body with the right nutrients that so desperately is craving.
I will address in future blog posts, what are the rights foods and why you should go Vegan. For today, I just wanted to open our eyes at the alarming rates of obesity and heart disease in our country. It is time to wake up. It is time to take charge of our lives.
