The Importance of Being Intentional with YOUR Health

We’ve heard it all before. We, as women, need to start taking care of ourselves and live a healthier lifestyle. But what does that mean, really? We are told that we need to be healthy...but why? The "why" should be something that is personal to you--it is what should drive your intention to be healthy. But there is truth in the statement above. Women’s health is important...and I’m here to share my reasons why it should matter to you.

Firstly, it’s important to state the facts and understand why these facts are relevant to you. Did you know that the number one cause of death in women is heart disease (this is also true for men FYI)? Don't feel bad if you didn't know. We rarely hear about this on social media or on TV. It's not as publicized as other diseases such as cancer. While cancer is definitely a threat to our health and wellbeing, heart disease is just as important and more prevalent, especially in women of color.

I read a story about a woman named Lauren who didn't realize she had a risk of heart disease until she suffered from a heart attack while out with friends. Presumably, she thought she was healthy given her young age of 40. However, she didn't live a particularly healthy lifestyle--she had a sedentary job, didn't make an effort to be more active, and had a diet which lacked a lot of nutrients. After her heart attack, Lauren didn't commit to a lifestyle change and suffered another heart attack many years later. Being intentional with living a healthy lifestyle was a life or death matter in Lauren's case.

1 in 2 women of color in the United States die of heart disease. Of black women 20 years of age and older, 49% of them have heart disease. But get this...only 36% of black women actually know that heart disease is their greatest health risk…WILD. This goes to show you that just because you present as healthy on the outside doesn't mean you're healthy on the inside.

Now that I've stated the facts, you’re probably asking: how does any of this relate to me and being intentional with my health? Well for one, if you are a woman, this should matter, as you can see the prevalence of heart disease in our community. Secondly, this is something that can be prevented. You don’t have to be a part of these statistics. Heart disease can be prevented through lifestyle changes. Conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, poor diet, inactivity, and chronic stress are contributing factors to heart disease. 90% of women have one or more of these contributing factors. This is true for younger women as well. Yes...you. These factors and conditions can be prevented. Heart disease doesn't have to be your fate. Living with these contributing factors doesn't have to be the story of your life. If you suffer from any of these conditions, they can be controlled through changes in your everyday life.

Now that you know this information, how are you going to use it? Answer this question: How can I become more intentional about my health? To me, it’s about fueling my body so that it functions the way it was meant to. We put our bodies through so much. As women, we’re often the main caregivers, pushing ourselves beyond our boundaries and limits. The least we can do is treat our bodies with grace and not run the risk of developing conditions like diabetes and chronic stress in the process. Being intentional with my health is about adding vegetables to my meals because I know their nutrients will benefit me. It’s about making time during the week to exercise because my heart needs the conditioning. It’s about taking time each week to work on improving my mental health because my stress can be debilitating.

We show up for so many other people in our lives...why can’t we show up for ourselves? It doesn’t take a huge overhaul of change. After all, being intentional is a lifelong journey that changes with every stage of our lives. It’s about doing one or two things everyday, being consistent, and building on that foundation. That's how you show up for yourself. That’s being intentional. I challenge you to think of ways that you can show up for yourself, especially for your health and wellbeing. It's about time we normalized women putting our health on the top of the priority list.