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Amanda Merck

Merck completed her MPH with a concentration in Physical Activity and Health. She curates content for Salud America! (@SaludAmerica), a Latino childhood obesity prevention project based at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. She focuses on the latest research, resources, and stories related to policy, systems, and environmental changes to enhance equitable access to safe places for kids and families to walk, bike, and play.

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Articles by Amanda Merck

3 Ways to Have a Healthy St. Patrick’s Day


st. patrick's day

Are you wearing green? Today is St. Patrick’s Day most commonly known among Latinos as the Irish 5 de Mayo. Here are three ways you can celebrate in a healthy way: 1. Drink a Licuado Verde (Green Smoothie) This green smoothie packs vitamins and proteins that will give you an energy boost! Watch San Antonio-based celebrity Chef Johnny Hernandez demonstrate the recipe. https://youtu.be/4SzD8YVkxp4 2. Jog Lace up your tennis shoes and go for an evening jog around your neighborhood. A 20-minute jog will give you the right amount of boost to get you through your day like a champ! 3. Dance Play your favorite salsa/merengue tunes. Research has shown that dancing not only is good for your physical health but also for your mental health. Happy St. Patrick’s ...

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Study: Half of What We Eat is Junk Food


Sleepless Night junk food

A new study reveals that a whopping 60% of what we eat in the U.S. is considered "junk food" loaded with fat, salt, and sugar that we’re not supposed to eat, NBC Health reports. The study reports that this is evidence of why two-thirds of Americans, including Latinos, are overweight or obese. "The most common ultra-processed foods in terms of energy contribution were breads, soft drinks, fruit drinks, and milk-based drinks; cakes, cookies, and pies; salty snacks; frozen and shelf-stable plates; pizza and breakfast cereals," Dr. Carlos Augusto Monteiro of the University of São Paulo and colleagues there, and at Tufts University in Boston, wrote in their report. The study found that just under 650 calories of the average 2,000 calorie-a-day-diet were from fruits and vegetables, ...

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Zumba Time! Dancing May Reduce Heart Disease Risks


dance zumba

A new study found that moderate-intensity dancing can lower a person's risk of dying from heart disease, Reuters reports. The study included questions about frequency, duration, and intensity of dancing and walking over a four-week period. Only about 3,100 of the 48,000 people surveyed reported dancing of any intensity, and nearly two-thirds said they walked at any intensity. In the study's follow-up, heart disease had caused 1,714 deaths. People who reported moderate-intensity dancing and walking were less likely to die from cardiovascular disease than those who did not. “It is not surprising that moderate-intensity physical activity is protective against cardiovascular disease mortality,” lead author Dafna Merom of the University of Western Sydney in Australia told Reuters. ...

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3 Superfoods to Start Eating Again



Some people don't know what foods are or aren't nutritious, and how it affects their weight. Manuel Villacorta, a registered dietitian, said in a Fox News article that some of his clients have sworn off certain beneficial and healthy foods because they have heard they are “fattening” or just not good for them. Here are three foods to start eating again, according to Villacorta: Eggs: While eggs have fat and cholesterol in them, it doesn't necessarily mean that eggs will harm your weight or your cardiovascular system. According to nutritionists, high cholesterol in your diet isn't the cause of high serum cholesterol in your bloodstream. Eggs are high in protein, good for maintaining muscle mass which helps manage your metabolism and weight. Some studies have shown that eggs ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 3/15/16: How Kids Can Eat Healthy in Child Care and Afterschool Settings


Eat Healthy in Child Care and Afterschool Settings

One of four U.S. kids already is overweight or obese by ages 2-5, making it critical find ways to help kids achieve a healthy weight early on. The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is one taking steps to meet this goal by providing nutritious meals and snacks to more than 4 million children in child care centers, family care homes, and after-school programs. On March 15, 2016, use #SaludTues to tweet with us about the importance of healthy foods and drinks for children in celebration of CACFP Week, March 13-19: WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: How Kids Can Eat Healthy in Child Care and Afterschool Settings TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, March 15, 2016 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: The Association for ...

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Make ‘Jugo Verde,’ a Tasty, Healthy Green Smoothie for National School Breakfast Week!



Parents, need ideas for a healthy, tasty breakfast? Try the easy-to-make Jugo Verde (Green Juice) by San Antonio Chef Johnny Hernandez! Watch his cooking demo: Jugo Verde (quick version) Jugo Verde (step-by-step instructions and guidance) Chef Johnny conducted the cooking demonstration for a new campaign by Salud America! to promote the importance of nutritious breakfasts at school and at home. For the campaign, we invite you to snap a picture of you and/or your child having breakfast at home or at school and share it using #SaludNSBW / #NSBW16 on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for your chance to win a T-shirt and jump rope! Try making Jugo Verde ...

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How Much Caffeine is Too Much to Drink?


coffee caffeine

Caffeine is a daily part of life for many Americans. Almost 85% of the adult population drink at least one caffeinated beverage a day, according to data. But how much caffeine is safe? March is National Caffeine Awareness Month, a good time to learn about this popular alkaloid commonly found in coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, and now found in unexpected places such as ice creams and over-the-counter pain medicines. Caffeine, which acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system, is found naturally in over 60 plants, like coffee beans, tea leaves, and in cacao (the base for chocolate). It also can be produced synthetically. Moderate consumption has some positive benefits: Caffeine can stimulate thermogenesis, which burns through more fat cells faster; Caffeine ...

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3 Ways to Boost Your Health


Boost Your Health

If you’re like many parents, you probably don’t have enough time to go to the gym every day. Being a parent can be hectic—especially when you have to juggle work, children, and family. What can you do to stay healthy without spending hundreds of hours at the gym every week? 1. Exercise Doctors recommend exercising your heart at least 30 minutes a day to stay in optimal health conditions. For example, you can walk during lunch time, run/jog in place while you watch your favorite novela, or go bicycle riding with your children to the nearest park. 2. Eat Healthy Mom was right, we are what we eat. Stop eating foods high in saturated fats, salt, and cholesterol. Replace junk food with fruits, vegetables, and plenty of water. 3. Meditate Plenty of studies ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 3/8/16: How to ‘Veg Out’ for Kids


Veg Out

Some kids are exposed to unhealthy foods and drinks at school and on TV. We need to create increased access to and education about fresh fruit and vegetables. That’s why, for National Nutrition Month in March, we’re inviting YOU to use #SaludTues and tweet your favorite recipes and tools, and learn cool ways to “Veg Out”! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: Ways to "Veg Out" for Healthy Eating TIME/DATE: Noon CST (1 p.m. EST) Tuesday, March, 8, 2016 WHERE: On Twitter , hashtag #SaludTues HOST: Salud America! (@SaludAmerica) CO-HOSTS: Recipe For Success (@R4SFoundation), The Coalition for Healthy School Food (@CoolSchoolFood), Chop Chop Magazine (@chopchopmag), the Chef Anne Foundation (@ChefAnnFnd) During the Tweetchat you’ll get to hear about the Recipe for ...

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