Scientists are recommending more plant-based protein sources – beans, peas, and lentils – in the upcoming 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines, which provide national nutrition recommendations, will be updated this year. A big contributor to the update is the Scientific Report from the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which was submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Dec. 10, 2024. The scientific report proposes to remove beans, peas, and lentils from the “vegetable” category, leave them solely in the “protein” category, and list them as prioritized proteins. “The protein section has pretty much always said lean meat, then chicken, fish, eggs, beans, ...
Did you know that smoking one single cigarette can burn 20 minutes off of your life expectancy? This is according to a UK-based study, which also found that smokers lose about the same number of healthy years as they do total years of life. “Thus smoking primarily eats into the relatively healthy middle years rather than shortening the period at the end of life, which is often marked by chronic illness or disability,” according to the study. While the study focused on the UK, life expectancy and smoking are big issues in the US, too. Today, there are over 480,000 US deaths each year caused by smoking and smoke exposure, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Let’s dig deeper into this issue and learn more about how this impacts ...
The 2025 New Year brings about new resolutions for many hoping to adopt a healthier lifestyle like eating healthier or exercising more. Quitting smoking could help, too. With several health problems stemming from smoking including cancer, heart disease, and respiratory infections, why not quit smoking as a resolution? Let’s dive into the facts and benefits of leaving smoking behind in 2024!
Rates of Latino Smokers 49.2 million (19.8%)—or nearly 1 in 5—U.S. adults reported current tobacco product use in 2022, according to the CDC. How does this impact Latinos? About 1 in 13 (7.7%) Hispanic or Latino adults in the U.S. smokes cigarettes, according to the CDC. Cigarette smoking also is more common for Latino men than Latinas. Latino youth can also be targeted ...
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) impacts some people more than others. In fact, about 70% of people living with RA are women, according to the World Health Organization. That makes it critical to promote education, resources, and support for women when it comes to treating and managing RA. With this in mind, you’re invited to watch “Thriving with RA: Essential Tips for Women’s Health and Wellness,” an online educational session that will empower women with RA to take control of their pain and health, helping them understand treatment options and know when and how to speak up to get the care they deserve. Join us to learn practical ways to improve pain, fatigue, and depression and find support tailored to you—because no one should have to face RA alone. Panelist Victoria ...
Good health is important for everyone. With this in mind, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking public comments on its 2026-2030 NIH Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan “to identify the most pressing concerns” for health in the next five years. You can endorse a model comment by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio, to emphasize priorities in the plan. Endorse the comment by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. January 2025 Update: 136 people endorsed a model comment by Dr. Amelie Ramirez to emphasize priorities in the 2026-2030 NIH Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan. endorse the comment!
Endorse a Comment on the NIH Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan
Go here to ...
Two million Texans lost their Medicaid health insurance coverage in part due to state errors after federal funding to Texas ended after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent article from ProPublica and The Texas Tribune. Many who feel “wrongly removed” are struggling to regain their coverage. “Texas’ zealousness in removing people from Medicaid was a choice that contradicted federal guidelines from the start,” according to the article. “That decision was devastating in Texas, which already insures a smaller percentage of its population through Medicaid than almost any other state and is one of 10 that never expanded eligibility after the passage of the Affordable Care Act.” If you’re struggling with a Medicaid application in Texas, you can share your story ...
Cancer can be many things. Some describe cancer as a journey, a struggle, or a fight. For Brittney Millard, a breast cancer diagnosis was a life-changing event that gave her the passion to advocate for other cancer survivors. “It's really what's in your heart. You can advocate for people you know in your daily life, just spreading awareness and taking initiative,” Millard said. Millard, 32, an intern at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, still faced many hardships with her cancer experience. But now she aims to help others avoid pitfalls she went through. Let’s learn more about her inspiring story and her goals for advocating for others.
A Major Life Change
A native of San Antonio, Millard described her childhood as ...
Climate change threatens communities by worsening air quality and increasing chronic disease risk and intensifying deadly storms, droughts, and heat waves. Certain communities – low-income neighborhoods and people of color – often suffer most because they suffer from health inequities, are more exposed to climate risks, and have a lower ability to prepare, adapt, and recover from their effects. How vulnerable is your community to climate change? The new U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI), a mapping tool, uses environmental, social, economic, and infrastructure data to help you understand your community’s ability to respond and adapt to climate change. “Better understanding of the intersection of vulnerability and climate change risks is key to effectively building ...
Breast cancer survivors were less likely to meet physical activity guidelines than women without cancer, according to a recent study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. In addition, certain survivors, including Latinas, also had low rates of physical activity. “Low physical activity participation among breast cancer survivors may be related to various clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics,” according to the study. Let’s dive into this research and what it means for Latina breast cancer survivors.
Physical Activity and Survivorship
Setting fitness goals with physical activity is an important part of breast cancer survivorship. “Research shows that getting to and staying at a healthy weight, eating right, and being physically active ...
103 People Commented to Prioritize Plant-Based Proteins in 2025 Dietary Guidelines
Scientists are recommending more plant-based protein sources – beans, peas, and lentils – in the upcoming 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines, which provide national nutrition recommendations, will be updated this year. A big contributor to the update is the Scientific Report from the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which was submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Dec. 10, 2024. The scientific report proposes to remove beans, peas, and lentils from the “vegetable” category, leave them solely in the “protein” category, and list them as prioritized proteins. “The protein section has pretty much always said lean meat, then chicken, fish, eggs, beans, ...
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