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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

#SaludTues Tweetchat 1p ET 7/21/15: ‘Sugary Beverage Campaigns’


sugary drink tweetchat

San Francisco, Illinois, Bexar County, New York City, and many more communities throughout the US are making waves when it comes to raising awareness about the harmful effects of sugary drinks. Why should you be concerned about sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) like high calorie sodas, juices, sports drinks and teas? Join us for a #SaludTues tweetchat on July 21, 2015, to learn more about the great work around SSB campaigns happening across the county. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Sugary Beverage Campaigns” DATE: Tuesday, July 21, 2015 TIME: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT) WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: @OpenTruthNow @PrevObesityIL @YoureTheCureTX @hlthcollab SPECIAL GUEST: @nycHealthy We’ll open the floor to your ...

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More Education and Counseling Needed to Teach Women about Risks of Obesity During Pregnancy


Obesity During Pregnancy

More education and counseling is needed to teach overweight women in the U.S. with hopes to become pregnant about the dangers of being overweight during pregnancy, Reuters reports. A new study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics revealed that 31 percent of overweight women hoping to get pregnant “mistakenly thought their weight was 'about right' and 47 percent thought their diet was healthy and saw no reason to adjust what they were eating.” “Overweight women trying to conceive largely misperceive their weight, which is concerning because they may not try to adopt healthier behaviors,” study author Mahbubur Rahman of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston told Reuters. The study administered questionnaires to 1,726 women ...

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La FDA aprueba dispositivo para ayudar a pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson


enfermedad de Parkinson

La administración de alimentos y medicinas (FDA, por sus siglas en inglés) recientemente aprobó un dispositivo que  estimula el cerebro para personas que sufren de Parkinson, el cual afecta desproporcionalmente a los latinos. El dispositivo Brio Neurostimulation system, “es un  dispositivo implantadle que ayuda a reducir los síntomas del mal de Parkinson, el cual causa temblor en diferentes partes del cuerpo,” dijo la FDA en un comunicado de prensa. El Brio System fue aprobado por la FDA después de dos pruebas clínicas, una con 127 pacientes quienes usaron el dispositivo por seis meses, y la otra con 136 pacientes quienes los usaron por tres meses. “Ambos grupos demostraron cambios significativos al momento que el aparato fue encendido de cuando fue apagado,” dijo ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 1p ET 7/7/15: How Families Can Eat Healthy This Summer


eating healthier for summer

Summer brings fun, sun, and—too often—poor health for kids. Emerging evidence shows children gain more weight during summer months than they do during the school year, and fitness gains children achieve during the school year are erased over the summer. How can families stay healthy over the summer? Let’s use #SaludTues on July 7, 2015, to tweet recipes, tips, and other resources that can make sure all peole eat healthy and stay active while we celebrate summer vacation: WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “How Families Can Eat Healthy This Summer” DATE: Tuesday, July 7, 2015 TIME: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT) WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS: ChopChop Magazine, a bilingual publication that teaches kids to cook and eat ...

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Salud America! and Chef Johnny Team Up to Share Kid-Friendly Summer Healthy Recipes


Chef Johnny saludsummer campaign for summer

Did you know kids gain more weight during their summer vacation than they do the entire school year? That’s why Salud America! and San Antonio celebrity Chef Johnny Hernandez are partnering to launch #SaludSummer, a social media recipe-sharing campaign to promote healthy—and fun—eating for families during the summer. Starting on July 1, the campaign will use #SaludSummer to share one new kid-friendly recipe a week on social media by Chef Johnny, who puts his passion for Latino flavors, including fresh fruit cups, licuados (smoothies), and tortas into practice at his restaurants in San Antonio and Las Vegas. People also can share photos of their own healthy foods on social media using #SaludSummer and be entered into a random drawing for a grand prize—a Jawbone fitness ...

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El ejercicio puede reducir riesgo de diabetes gestacional


Doctor examining pregnant womans blood sugar

El ejercicio puede reducir la probabilidad de padecer de diabetes gestacional, reporta Health Day. En un estudio reciente por investigadores españoles publicado en BJOG: an International Journal of Obstretics and Gynaecology, encontró que dentro de 2,800 mujeres que participaron en el estudio, las que ejercitaron durante su embarazo redujeron su riesgo de padecer de diabetes gestacional por más del 30 por ciento. Mujeres embarazadas que combinaron aerobics, pesas, y flexibilidad durante sus ejercicios redujeron su nivel de riesgo aún más. "El ejercicio no es algo que se deba temer durante el embarazo. El nivel moderado de ejercicio usado en estos estudios tuvo efectos significativamente positivos sobre la salud, y se encontró que eran seguros tanto para la madre como para ...

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5 Ways to Eat for a Healthier Smile


dental health

SaludToday Guest Blogger Jefferson Dental Clinics Crispy veggies and sweet fruits make great-tasting, healthy treats. But did you know, they can also give you a healthier smile and fight gum disease? Nearly 67% of Mexican Americans suffer gum (periodontal) disease, a high rate. Periodontal disease forms pockets around the teeth, where bacteria and buildup accumulate, and if untreated can lead to bone and tissue erosion in the jaw. In severe cases, sufferers may experience tooth loss. What should you eat for proper oral health? Oral health experts from Jefferson Dental Clinics, in honor of National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month in June, recommend incorporating these five essential vitamin- and mineral-rich foods to support oral health: Snack on spinach for iron ...

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Texas: Línea telefónica ayuda a residentes a encontrar asistencia nutricional


asistencia nutricional

En Texas, el 18 por ciento de la población viven en hogares que no siempre tienen los medios económicos para poder comprar comida. Con esto en mente el departamento de agricultura de Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés) ha financiado una línea telefónica para que los residentes de Texas tengan un acceso más fácil a recursos gubernamentales y privados. Llamando a la línea creada por USDA, las personas que llamen podrán tener acceso a proveedores de comida en casos de emergencia, programas de asistencia nutricional y otros servicios. Durante los meses de verano la línea de llamadas también provee información de lugares donde jóvenes menores de 18 años y niños pueden recibir comida gratis. “El programa de nutrición de USDA provee una ayuda invaluable, ...

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Tell Six Flags: Post Nutritional Info Online


six flags healthy menu labeling

Six Flags theme parks offer family fun in the sun—but no tips on how to eat healthy while having fun. Six Flags’ “healthy food” webpages have no nutritional facts! They list churros, nachos, pizza, and fried chicken as nutritious, and only have vague references to healthy options, like salad. The parks’ 26 million annual visitors deserve better. In 2015, Salud America! launched a digital voice campaign to enable people to sign a letter to tell Six Flags to list and describe its specific healthy menu options and add nutritional information to its website so families can make plans to eat healthy while at the theme parks! For example, 9 of the 10 foods claimed as “nutritious” at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio are not actually that nutritious if prepared ...

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