After a doctor sat her down and prescribed medication to lower her blood pressure, R&B singer/reality star Monica says it is imperative that she work on her fitness and eat healthy.

“I can’t stay in the gym. I’m going to have to though, because I just found out that I have high blood pressure. I’m 28 years old,” Monica tells Sister 2 Sister magazine.

“It’s me now wanting to exercise and just learn to eat better; it’s not for vanity purposes. I’m changing my eating patterns. I was addicted to (putting) Lawry’s Seasoning Salt on my soul food – addicted to Old Boy seasoning. That stuff was killing me slowly. I ain’t even been around long enough yet!”

“And it’s hereditary; it’s on both sides (of my family). My mom has it, my grandmother had it, my father has it and diabetes, and his mother had both.”

Monica is due to appear on BET via new reality series in October, which will be followed by the release of her next studio album.