Learning to Live Heart Healthy

By Cheryl D’Mello

Candace Wallace offers CSU students steps to live a heart healthy life.

“Weight does not come on overnight, so it will not go overnight,” said Candace Wallace, Director of Cultural Health Initiatives for the American Heart Association.

She was addressing a workshop “Learning to Live Heart Healthy,” held on March 26, as part of the AHANA* Peer Mentoring Program called Sistas’ Voices, a forum sponsored by NIA: Black Women’s Initiatives for women to explore issues concerning women.

The program is supported by the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at Cleveland State University, and the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland. The workshop drew a group of women together to hear two CSU alumni, Wallace and Stacey M. Stoutemire, who suffered a heart attack at age 35 in March 2007.

“Today heart failure strikes African Americans at the same rate as elderly Caucasians,” revealed Wallace. African Americans are at a greater risk of stroke and heart attack, stemming from lifestyle practices and physical activities.

“Often our bodies tell us something is wrong, but out of fear we don’t visit the doctor.” Heart disease is today’s number one killer, cancer is number two, and stroke is number three. “Why end your life sooner than you have to?” she asked.

According to Wallace, preventive medicine is better than anything. She had simple suggestions: “The best part of the grocery store is the outer section. Spend more time there than on the inner section,” park further away from the building, visit the state of the art Recreation Center on campus. “Be realistic,” she said, “look at your schedule. This is not a short term goal, but a lifestyle change. It is not just for you to fit into your swimsuit this summer!” She encouraged the audience to cook instead of eating frozen meals. “It is more cost efficient; and the taste of home cooked meals is far better,” she said.

The audience was amazed when Stoutemire shared her testimony. Coming from a family with a history of deaths due to heart disease, Stoutemire knew that she had a genetic predisposition for the disease. For 14 years she ran a catering business, ‘Simple Elegant Catering’. After her heart attack, she switched from cooking with vegetable oil to olive oil and made drastic changes. As a result, her business is booming.

“It does not cost that much to eat healthy,” she said. “And often it is not what you are eating, but how you are eating it. Instead of frying chicken, boil, bake or grill it and drain the oil; switch from ice cream to sherbets. High sodium intake leads to water retention in the body.” The basic tenet is to practice moderation and stay committed. She encourages parents to bring kids into the kitchen to cut the vegetables. “They are more likely to eat what they cook.”

The workshop attendees were treated to a heart healthy lunch, and were presented healthy Soul Food cook books.

*AHANA (African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, Native American)

Article originally appeared in The Cauldron on March 30, 2009.