Does your culture or background affect your health?

EvgeniZyntx

The genetic overlap with cultural identifiers, social structures and your family history probably impact significantly some of the baseline elements of health. This isn't to say you are not master of your destiny but, yes, Virginia, the place you come from, the food you eat are often tied to cultural and social roots.

Heart disease, particularly high blood pressure, is more present in certain segments of the American population, as are some other rare conditions like sickle cell anemia, Ty-Sachs syndrome, Celiac disease, lipid transport disease, Gaucher's, etc, etc.

There are both high and low risk demographic groups for hundreds of diseases, and while the use of race or ethnicity in diagnosis and other health care services is rightly criticized there is research constantly carried out that treats various demographic factors such as nationality, race, or ethnicity as a socially meaningful group in the study of epidemiologically relevant factors.

Do you, in your quest to lose or gain weight, to be healthier, take into consideration the commonality of your experience in others of the same background? Whatever that background might be?

Personally, I know that I eat more like a "French person" (cultural choice) than a "Mexican" (ethnic background) or "German" (where I reside as I write this).

It's likelier that I will have food, medical and health discussions that are relevant to my lifestyle and background. If I actively reach out for that I'm probably enhancing my experience here without, in any way, being exclusive of other groups. What about you?

jofjltncb6

In...

...to better understand how my heritage, environment, and choices affect my health...

...and what is and is not allowed by MFP policy for me to reach out to others with these commonalities.

Cranquistador

In...

...to better understand how my heritage, environment, and choices affect my health...

...and what is and is not allowed by MFP policy for me to reach out to others with these commonalities.

arent we all here for the same thing?

_TastySnoBalls_

I am Mexican so I am already statistically prone to, at some point in my life, have: hypertension, hyperlipidemia, DMII, CV issues, etc. But I don't really eat like a Mexican, more like a mix of Mexican and SAD. Will my food choices now affect my probability of getting one of the aforementioned diseases? Who knows? I hope that I'm at least staving it off as much as I can with my exercise routine and portion control.

_TastySnoBalls_

In...

...to better understand how my heritage, environment, and choices affect my health...

...and what is and is not allowed by MFP policy for me to reach out to others with these commonalities.

arent we all here for the same thing?

Not if you band up with people who are the same color as you. That is apparently frowned upon here.

Achrya

In...

...to better understand how my heritage, environment, and choices affect my health...

...and what is and is not allowed by MFP policy for me to reach out to others with these commonalities.

arent we all here for the same thing?

Not if you band up with people who are the same color as you. That is apparently frowned upon here.

Indeed. If I want to find other people who are my height, cool. People my age? Go ahead. People who eat rice at every meal, because that's how we roll where I live? Alright!

People who share a common heritage and thus might face similar issues in health, culture, and body perception? Frick no!

EvgeniZyntx

I am Mexican so I am already statistically prone to, at some point in my life, have: hypertension, hyperlipidemia, DMII, CV issues, etc. But I don't really eat like a Mexican, more like a mix of Mexican and SAD. Will my food choices now affect my probability of getting one of the aforementioned diseases? Who knows? I hope that I'm at least staving it off as much as I can with my exercise routine and portion control.

Well, as a Mexican I'm also statistically prone to drink Coke and have all the problems you mentioned. I don't. But the issue with statistics is that it is a population descriptive tool and not a individual fate. Like for example, given my ethnic background I'm also likelier to be a carrier of Ty-Sachs. And guess what!? I am! (Oh, woops, what was I saying....)

Oh, well, perhaps not the best example - except the education I received on the disease was driven largely by ethnic group knowledge. Hmmm.

SunofaBeach14

The OP once again posts something thoughtful, concise, and meaningful.

In.

jofjltncb6

In...

...to better understand how my heritage, environment, and choices affect my health...

...and what is and is not allowed by MFP policy for me to reach out to others with these commonalities.

arent we all here for the same thing?

Not if you band up with people who are the same color as you. That is apparently frowned upon here.

To be fair, it isn't that MFP has a problem with it. They'll lock/mod/nuke *any* thread if enough people report it, regardless of its content. That's how the system works. In this example, enough people reported it for whatever reason, some of which may have been completely valid...so MFP puts it on lock-down until they have a chance to discuss it with TPTB during normal working hours.

Meanwhile, it leads people to (at least what I hope is) the wrong impression.

This is a consequence of an imperfect system more than it is any kind of pervasive prejudice (IMHO).

_TastySnoBalls_

I am Mexican so I am already statistically prone to, at some point in my life, have: hypertension, hyperlipidemia, DMII, CV issues, etc. But I don't really eat like a Mexican, more like a mix of Mexican and SAD. Will my food choices now affect my probability of getting one of the aforementioned diseases? Who knows? I hope that I'm at least staving it off as much as I can with my exercise routine and portion control.

Well, as a Mexican I'm also statistically prone to drink Coke and have all the problems you mentioned. I don't. But the issue with statistics is that it is a population descriptive tool and not a individual fate. Like for example, given my ethnic background I'm also likelier to be a carrier of Ty-Sachs. And guess what!? I am! (Oh, woops, what was I saying....)

Oh, well, perhaps not the best example - except the education I received on the disease was driven largely by ethnic group knowledge. Hmmm.

LOL@ the drink Coke part. There is a great Pepsi v. Coke divide when my family gets together. I, fortunately, don't have any medical ailment as of yet either. I am only 31 though. My mom, who's in her 60's does have some of these diseases. So does my grandmother. So....genetic disposition, rather than statistical analysis? Or, same thing?

ebayaddict0127

For me it does. I have family history of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and kidney failure. I've decided to lose this weight and get healthier not only because I'm overweight, but also because I don't want to have other health problems earlier than necessary. I saw my grandma die a painful death of cancer. My grandpa on dialysis. My other grandpa had several heart attacks. Both sides of my family were poor and didn't eat well. I have to unlearn those habits so that I can break the cycle.

I'm 1/2 German, 1/4 French, and 1/4 who the heck knows. Aside from the heart disease, I don't have any other high risk factors (yet...) My blood tests were amazing (aside from cholesterol) which was a shocker for me. I also see my doctors regularly to ensure I'm still OK. Things that didn't happen in my family back in the day (you were either too poor to see doctors or you were too proud).

Achrya

I'm black so, apparently, there are a host of problems that I need to be on the lookout for but I've always been of the opinion that a lot of the illness that seems prevalent in the black (american) community is a result of the abnormally high obesity rate. Other people's mileage may vary on that one.

I suppose I don't eat in a stereotypical black manner and in fact my diet at this stage is probably more in line with that of Hawaiians (which seems to lean towards 'whatever you can grab goes into the pot! Oh and more rice.") but that's a result of area. I didn't spend much time cooking for myself before I got out here so this is what I know to cook,




I'm not sure I'm answering the question properly. :ohwell:

_TastySnoBalls_

In...

...to better understand how my heritage, environment, and choices affect my health...

...and what is and is not allowed by MFP policy for me to reach out to others with these commonalities.

arent we all here for the same thing?

Not if you band up with people who are the same color as you. That is apparently frowned upon here.

To be fair, it isn't that MFP has a problem with it. They'll lock/mod/nuke *any* thread if enough people report it, regardless of its content. That's how the system works. In this example, enough people reported it for whatever reason, some of which may have been completely valid...so MFP puts it on lock-down until they have a chance to discuss it with TPTB during normal working hours.

Meanwhile, it leads people to (at least what I hope is) the wrong impression.

This is a consequence of an imperfect system more than it is any kind of pervasive prejudice (IMHO).

This is true. That was more of a jab at the reporters, rather than MFP. :bigsmile:

jayjay12345654321

Genetics, culture and heritage all create a unique recipe. It's up to you to figure out what works best for your makeup.

KristinaB83

Hmm... I'm really not sure. I'm from Belarus, so Eastern European. Not sure what sort of ailments are common there.
It does affect my choice in foods. I prefer Russian bread, and eat salmon roe for breakfast and totally love sala (salted pig fat).
I'm sure it has some sort of impact on me.

Ctrum69

and while the use of race or ethnicity in diagnosis and other health care services is rightly criticized

By people irrationally knee jerking...


Look at lactose intolerance. Certain racial/genetic groups don't naturally lose the enzymes required, while others do.

To claim there's anything racist, or wrong, about noting that, is just ridiculous.

Achrya

Genetics, culture and heritage all create a unique recipe. It's up to you to figure out what works best for your makeup.

_TastySnoBalls_

For me it does. I have family history of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and kidney failure. I've decided to lose this weight and get healthier not only because I'm overweight, but also because I don't want to have other health problems earlier than necessary. I saw my grandma die a painful death of cancer. My grandpa on dialysis. My other grandpa had several heart attacks. Both sides of my family were poor and didn't eat well. I have to unlearn those habits so that I can break the cycle.

I'm 1/2 German, 1/4 French, and 1/4 who the heck knows. Aside from the heart disease, I don't have any other high risk factors (yet...) My blood tests were amazing (aside from cholesterol) which was a shocker for me. I also see my doctors regularly to ensure I'm still OK. Things that didn't happen in my family back in the day (you were either too poor to see doctors or you were too proud).

The main culprits of death in my family seem to stem from diabetes related complications, all of them very elderly though. I admit that I am a little paranoid about dealing with that at some point in my life. My grandmother is awesome with compliance though. I think that also plays a big role. How one deals with the disease at hand.