🗣This Is Not Normal, Y’all❗️

Sometimes I hate logging onto to social media; invariably there is going to be a RIP for someone.  Today it was for our boy, John Singleton.  Damn!  

Flashback ‘91!  Remember where you were the first time you saw Boyz In The Hood?! …I was in college, an unapologetic East Coaster. I had no idea about the West Coast culture that was being portrayed before my eyes on the big screen. I was so not interested in a brother with a curl…(though I must admit, only because there are photos, that Ola Ray, convinced me to get one in ’84) Anywhoo, Boyz In the Hood and Singleton’s other movies exposed me to an entirely new culture of black people.

Back to now, here we are with yet another loss of a young, black person due to an illness that could have been, should have been prevented. Stroke – Caused by, lifestyle choices like stress, poor diet, lack of exercise and herein lies a vicious cycle. John is just one of many of us who passes way too soon, whether from cancer, heart attack, diabetes, suicide…I hate seeing people I grew up with, my generation die so young, for no good reason. The other thing is that money, class, and education doesn’t level the playing field – making new lifestyle choices does. The heart and mind forgive, the body doesn’t.

🗣NEWSFLASH🗣THIS SHIT IS NOT NORMAL!

According to the Centers for Disease Control:(Click here to review the CDC’s fact sheet designed specifically to help lower the risk of stroke in African American men. )

❗️Black men are twice as likely to suffer strokes than their White counterparts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

CONSIDER THESE SUGGESTIONS:

EAT HEALTHIER FOODS: Including more fruit and vegetables in your diet – food is the medicine (not the drugs)

LOWER SALT INTAKE: Salt, or sodium, raises your blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of a stroke. Use salt in moderation, and avoid foods that are high in sodium. Sodium intake should be no more than 1,500 milligrams per day.

HIT THE GYM: Exercise and drink more water

MONITOR YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE. The CDC reports that 40 percent of Black men have high blood pressure — a huge risk factor for strokes.

STOP SMOKING: Smoking doubles the risk of stroke

Feel stressed? Talk to someone, especially you (yeah, you) my beloved brothas!  ✳️ Prayer and meditation then action🙏🏽

Just try it, I bet you’ll feel better!

We need you! We need us!