Southern food may be killing black Americans, study finds

A new study from the University of Alabama shows the biggest factor associated with the increased risk of hypertension among black adults was the high consumption of a Southern-style diet.

Researchers at the University of Alabama examined nearly 7,000 black and white adults, none of whom had high blood pressure.

Nearly a decade later, 46 percent of African-Americans had developed high blood pressure, compared with one-third of white participants.

Researchers said African-Americans were more likely to eat the so-called “Southern Diet,” meaning lots of fried food, eggs and sugary beverages.

The participants were first examined between 2003 and 2007 and the follow-up examination took place nine years later.