Health the Baltimore City Health Department Re:

Health

The Baltimore City Health Department

Re: Chronic Kidney Disease Can Be Prevented with Nutrition Education

According to the National Kidney Foundation, 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease (CKD), and "millions of others are at risk." Of the populations most at risk include African-Americans. Persons with HIV / AIDS are also at risk for developing complications related to CKD. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common precursors for CKD, and African-Americans are at higher risk for diabetes and high blood pressure than the rest of the American population (National Kidney Foundation, 2012). Moreover, African-Americans are at a higher risk for developing end-stage renal disease (ESRD) versus other ethnic groups. Because the state of Maryland has a relatively high incidence of CKD cases, and because the state also has a large number of African-American residents, this public health issue must be addressed promptly. Chronic kidney disease and related complications are, furthermore, preventable illnesses. It is the ethical responsibility of the Baltimore City Health Department to tackle chronic kidney disease via a comprehensive and aggressive public health campaign.

Health promotion campaigns should target the African-American community, providing a focus for public health advertisements and public awareness announcements. Because CKD is a preventable condition, the public awareness campaign can be framed as a means to empower patients and increase self-efficacy regarding personal health. Public health will increase as a greater number of patients in the greater Baltimore area take control of their health via lifestyle changes. The most fundamental of those lifestyle changes is dietary regulation. The following health promotion strategy highlights dietary changes, as those changes specifically help persons either at risk for or already besieged with CKD or ESRD.

Dietary changes can lead to positive health outcomes, especially for people with preventable problems such as CKD. The standard American diet, which is high in sodium, sugar, and fat, can be modified to include tasty and filling foods that are far healthier and more conducive to long-term well-being. The patient with CKD or at risk for the disease does not have to give up eggs, carbohydrates, and other nutritional elements in order to stay healthy. This is why my proposal includes a dietary plan that any person, regardless of their age, ethnicity, or socio-economic class, can follow without feeling deprived or financially strained.

The proposed dietary plan includes at least three meals per day. Those meals consist of as little processed foods as possible. Processed foods are the greatest culprits for an unhealthy lifestyle because of the high sodium content. Moreover, processed foods train the consumer to refrain from purchasing fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins that sustain the body in a way that promotes health. Recipes include traditional cuisine as well as modern interpretation of classic soul food.