Financial incentives to get healthier food into underserved areas are becoming more popular, even the federal government has recognized their effectiveness. After conducting a study on healthy food access, The Ohio Healthy Food Financing Task Force has announced policy recommendations urging local and state policymakers to take steps to remove barriers that keep healthy food retailers from operating in places where they are needed most. "We call upon Ohio's local and state government leaders to create a culture of support for healthy food retail development in underserved communities by providing seed funding for a statewide healthy food financing fund similar to the successful Pennsylvania model," said James R. Klein, CEO of Finance Fund Capital Corporation, a statewide nonprofit ...
Hot flashes and menopausal symptoms last up to 14 years—longer than the seven years that had been thought—and Hispanic and black women experience hot flashes for a considerably longer time than white women, according to a new study, Utah People's Post reports. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggests 80% of women experience hot flashes. Hot flashes, which come and go irregularly through the day, are very unpleasant, making the body produce more sweat and flushing the face. They have been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular problems. The earlier these menopausal symptoms appear, the longer they're likely to persist, according to the new study. The average duration was 7.4 years. Longer duration (Hispanics at 8.9 years and Blacks at 10.1 years) was ...
One way to encourage folks to drink more water and fewer sugary drinks, many health professionals believe, is by removing taxes on bottled water. The Sugar Free Kids Maryland coalition is working to repeal the 6% sales tax on bottled water in the state. According to group, Maryland is one of only four states that taxes bottled water at a higher rate than other essentials like milk, eggs, and bread. The Water Affordability Act will be heard next week in the House and the Senate.
Get more information on the sales tax on bottled water in Maryland ...
Our friends over at Active Living Research (ALR) have done a wonderful job of creating a new Spanish infographic titled: "Hay Lugares Seguros Para Que Todos Los Ninos Puedan Realizar Actividades Físicas?" This translated version of ALR's popular "Do All Kids Have Safe Places to Be Active?" infographic was a collaborative effort between ALR and Salud America! The infographic paints a clear picture of the multiple barriers that keep children from low-income, Latino, and African American communities from being active. Despite the lack of recreational facilities, broken sidewalks, inadequate time for recess, and higher rates of automobile crashes and crime that exist in these underserved communities, there's hope! By working for improved policies and improvements to ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2014 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for the 2015 Èxito! program. Beatriz Sosa Prado
Los Angeles, Calif. Born in Mexico City, Beatriz Sosa Prado later immigrated with her family to Los Angeles. Influenced by the many challenges that immigrants encounter once they come to the United States, Sosa Prado pursued educational degrees with aims of being an advocate for them. Indeed, with the support of her family and husband, Sosa Prado earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Irvine, and a master’s degree in health science from California State University, Long Beach. She went on to become a bilingual nutritionist who helps Latina mothers in Los Angeles. Now ...
Inspired by healthy fresh produce and the farms that grow it, farmer and social entrepreneur Jenna Weiler from Holland, Michigan has come up with a fun way to promote fruits and veggies to kids while raising funds for healthy food projects. "Tater Tats" are temporary vegetable tattoos and a fun way to get kids and adults excited about seasonal, healthy eating. Weiler and her team want to sell them in stores, farmer's markets and anywhere food lovers shop. They need $2000 to produce the first round of tattoos and have started a Kickstarter project to raise money. And the tattoos won't just looking good, they'll do good, too. Weiler will give back 10% of Tater Tats profits to worthy farmers and food projects. She also want to sell wholesale to farms, markets and other positive ...
McAllen Independent School District (McAllenISD), a predominantly Latino district, recently became the first nationwide to have all of its 32 schools join the Let's Move, Active Movement! District Coordinator for K-12 Health & Physical Education After School Enrichment Programs, Mario Reyna, is credited with having worked to promote a plan of action which would provide school leaders with activation strategies and support to implement healthier practices in schools. Prior to becoming a Let’s Move! Active Schools district, Reyna attended multiple conferences where he learned various strategies to get students moving for at least 60 minutes a day. Soon afterward, Reyna started working to get buy-in from key leaders like the district's Superintendent Dr. James Ponce, the ...
The number of Latino doctors declined 22% over the past 30 years, while the Latino population rose 243% in the same span, according to a new study. The study, from UCLA’s Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture, used Census data to examine the Latino physician workforce from 1980 and 2010. Latino doctors declined from 135 to 105 per 100,000 Latinos from 1980 to 2010, a 22% drop. White doctors increased from 211 to 315 per 100,000 whites in the same period, a 49% rise. Study leaders said the Latino doctoral shortage negatively affects patients. “There is a shortage of health care professionals that, at minimum, have the language skills to communicate effectively with patients, provide quality care and avoid harmful outcomes for a growing majority of patients ...
Back to give it another shot, California State Senate Majority Leader Bill Monning introduced Senate Bill 203 that would require a simple warning on the front of containers of soda, sweet teas, sports drinks and energy drinks. The label, developed by a national panel of public health experts, would read: STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAFETY WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay. "Given the rock solid scientific evidence showing the dangers of sugary beverages, the state of California has a responsibility to inform consumers about products proven to be harmful to the public’s health," said Sen. Monning in a press release from the California Center for Public Health Advocacy. "This bill will give Californians the at-a-glance ...
