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Step It Up! The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities



There are numerous mental and physical benefits to walking. However, many Americans live in nonwalkable communities and face challenges to this most basic form of physical activity. Although walking is an individual behavior, walking can be made easier by improvements to community walkability and by programs and policies that provide opportunities and encouragement for walking. In fact, this is exactly what the Surgeon General is calling for in the Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities. Multiple sectors of society can contribute to walkability, including transportation, land use, and community design; parks, recreation, and fitness; education; business and industry; volunteer and nonprofit organizations; health care; media; and public health. Check ...

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Kids Get Healthy Eating Lessons at Farmers Markets in Oregon



A farmer's market is a lot of fun—for parents only, usually. Kids often just tag along, glumly, as their parents busily shop for fresh fruits and vegetables. That is, until the Market Sprouts Kids Club. Kaely Summers and other farmer's market managers in Oregon teamed up to create the Market Sprouts Kids Club program to teach local kids who come to the market about farming, fresh produce, and healthy eating. Now kids ages 5-12 who visit local markets, like Summers' Forest Grove Farmer's Market in Forest Grove, Ore., (23.1% Latino), do fun, interactive activities alongside farmers and volunteers who teach about healthier foods and healthier choices! Farmer's Markets and Children in Oregon Officials with Adelante Mujeres, a non-profit organization fin Forest Grove, have been ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 9/15/15: Connecting Kids to Health Coverage


kid at doctor

Over the last several years, millions of U.S. kids have been connected with free or low-cost health coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). But more than 3 million kids remain eligible but uninsured. Join us for a #SaludTues Tweetchat on Sept. 15, 2015, to tweet about what we can do to close the gap and make sure that all kids—and more parents, too—get the health insurance they need and deserve: WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Connecting Kids to Health Coverage” DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Connecting Kids to Coverage Campaign (@IKNGov) and National Council of La Raza ...

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Simple Tips to Protect Yourself from Skin Cancer


Cáncer de Piel

Summer is almost over, but there’s still time for one last trip to the beach, a family picnic, sand volleyball or fishing. Just keep in mind the risks of sun overexposure, such as skin cancer. Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is responsible for 79 percent of skin cancer related deaths, and is the leading cause of cancer death among women ages 25-30. People of all skin types and backgrounds are at risk. But, you don't have to hide from the sun. Doctors say you can protect from skin cancer by following these simple tips: Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher everyday Cover up with clothing, including UV-blocking sunglasses Apply 1 ounce of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside Examine your skin head-to-toe once every ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat: “Let’s talk About Ovarian Cancer for National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month”


women exercise fitness happy optimistic ovarian

 As many as 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year. Unfortunately, many don’t catch it in time. One of the difficulties with diagnosing ovarian cancer is the lack of symptoms or very mild ones. To raise awareness September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Join our weekly #SaludTues tweetchat 1 p.m. ET we will discuss solutions and ways to raise awareness. WHAT: #SaludTuesTweetchat: “Let’s talk About Ovarian Cancer for National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month” DATE: Tuesday, September 08, 2015 TIME: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT) WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: University of Colorado Cancer Center (@CUCancerCenter), National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (@NOCC_National) Be sure to use ...

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Fields for All: Soccer & Futsal Courts Come to Recreation Deserts in Multnomah County, Oregon



Many kids live in “recreation deserts,” which lack access to safe, affordable physical activity opportunities. Therefore, they often do not meet daily physical activity recommendations and are at increased risk for obesity. One way to reduce these challenges and increase physical activity among children is to provide free, safe recreation facilities in their neighborhood with relevant programming. Shawn Levy and Ricki Ruiz, two community-driven initiatives in Multnomah County, Ore., have crossed paths in their efforts to reduce recreation deserts in neighborhoods by building and fixing soccer fields and futsal courts. Soccer Loving Kids Live in Recreation Desert Oregon residents Shawn Levy and Ricki Ruiz love soccer and know it is good for kids and adults. But each found ...

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La pobreza extrema afecta 1 de 4 latinos en EEUU


kid sitting poverty low income health

Al rededor del 26 por ciento de los latinos y el 24 por ciento de afro-americanos viven en “pobreza extrema,” el cual significa que tienen dificultades en poder pagar por necesidades básicas, aun así con ayuda de programas gubernamentales, de acuerdo a un nuevo estudio. El reporte del US Department of Health and Human Services , HHS por sus siglas en inglés, define pobreza extrema al nivel de la mitad del nivel de pobreza federal—menos de $6,000 para un adulto o $7,600 para un adulto con dependientes. Según el reporte: Una familia en pobreza extrema gasta $3,000-$6,000 más en necesidades que sus ingresos permiten. Individuos en pobreza extrema tienden a estar menos saludables que aquellos con ingresos mayores por lo cual requieren de mayor atención ...

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Yoga vs. Gym Workouts: What’s Best?


Yoga vs. Gym Workouts

Yoga and regular gym workouts are both effective, according to a new study, Ivanhoe reports. The study led by Dr. Daniel Hughes, an exercise researcher at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, surprised all participants who expected one of the workouts to emerge as more effective. “I think I was expecting that one would be stronger than the other, and probably thinking that yoga would be the end all be all,” Michelle Hart, a study participant, told Ivanhoe. For the study, one group was asked to do yoga, a second group to do regular gym workouts, and a third group to just stay active. During the study, all participants exercised three hours a week and lost the same amount of body fat, “about four percent.” “All three arms were just ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 8/18/15: Access to Clean & Sustainable Water


Clean water action

We are running out of water according to the NASA satellite GRACE. How do we know what technology will help us or hurt us in accessing and finding sustainable sources of water? California, Michigan, and other states have dealt with water issues for the last decade. We all need to talk about water, and what resources we have to help find solutions for clean and sustainable access of water for everyone. What can be done? Learn more about increasing access to sustainable water resources and questions about how to access resources at the #SaludTues Tweetchat, “Access To Clean & Sustainable Water” at noon central (1 p.m. eastern) Tuesday, August 18, 2015. The chat is co-hosted by Salud America! Follow the Tweetchat on Twitter (via @SaludAmerica, @LatinaLista and ...

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