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The Former Diet Is Typically High In Starchy Carbohydrate Foods With Items ...

The former diet is typically high in starchy carbohydrate foods with items such as rice, potatoes, yams, and green bananas being included as part of a meal usually accompanied by a meat, chicken or fish dish (p.451). The diet is lower in fat and higher in carbohydrates compared with White European meals.
This study highlighted important cultural differences in how food is described by the Afro-Caribbean compared with European communities. Terminology is critical, for example, sterilised milk is usually referred to as ‘steri' and whole pasteurised milk as plain milk. Green bananas are referred to as unripe bananas and yellow bananas as ripe bananas (p.453). Use of incorrect terminology during data collection can easily distort research findings. Afro-Caribbean's may also have a ‘tradition' of eating certain foods on certain days. For example, fried plantain is sometimes eaten for breakfast on Sunday, and there are often strict dietary restrictions during religious festivals.
Furthermore, cultural differences also emerged in terms of the amount of food served. In general portion sizes for many high-carbohydrate meals are typically larger than portion sizes for European dishes, the White European population will usually eat half to one mango at once, whereas African-Caribbean people may enjoy several on one occasion when they are in season (p.454).

PATHOLOGY
Obesity has been implicated as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (WHO, 2000, 2003; WHO/FAO, 2003; OFCOM, 2004; IOTF, 2005). Research suggests that African-Caribbean's in UK show higher mortality rates from stroke and end-stage renal failure, but lower mortality from Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), compared with other ethnic groups (e.g. Cappuccio, 1997; NHS, 2005).
Cappuccio (1997) surveyed UK literature concerning mortality/morbidity rates, risk factors, etiology, early influences, and prevention of cardiovascular disease in people of African (and South Asian) descent. Compared to Caucasians, people of African heritage had a higher incidence of stroke and end-stage renal failure (a complication of diabetes). However, ischaemic heart disease was less common in persons born in the Caribbean Commonwealth. The Health Survey for England (NHS, 2005) found that the prevalence of angina and heart attacks was lowest in Black African (and Chinese) participants. Black Caribbean's showed the highest prevalence of stroke, while black African men had the lowest prevalence of any cardiovascular condition. Among adults aged 55 and over ischaemic heart disease was lowest in Black African males and Black Caribbean females. Type 2 diabetes was more prevalent in Afro-Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi' adults (aged 35+ years). Cappuccio (1997) found that non-fatal stroke attacks are more frequent among Afro-Caribbean's.

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