How can you help your child succeed in 2017? Work to ensure that schools have healthy school policies in place! Parents and parent groups can make a difference by working with school administrators to create chages—from school nutrition to physical activity breaks throughout the day—to ensure that kids have the chance thrive physically, emotionally, and academically. Kids in schools with strong wellness policies are less likely to consume junk food and more likely to be physically active, research shows. They also tend to do better in school! Unfortunately, many Latino schools don't enforce such policies. Let's use #SaludTues on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, to join parents, educators and local leaders across the nation in tweeting solutions to boost school wellness policies ...
Athens, Ga., is like a lot of other U.S. communities. The Latino population in the 123,912-person city doubled in recent years, including many immigrants who have kids, speak Spanish, lack healthcare, and have low incomes, according to a new report. One certainty: They face many barriers to health. "Truly understanding what their needs are and the barriers they face when trying to access existing services for themselves and their children is a cornerstone to the development of relevant programs and policies that affect their overall well-being," Alejandra Calva, part of a Latino research institute at the University of Georgia, told UGA Today. What can be done in Athens and communities like it? Some communities are working hard to reduce the barriers that many Latinos ...
Many health disparities exist for the Latino community. Obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer are more prevalent among Latinos than in any other racial or ethnic minority group. Barriers (social, cultural, and financial) also exist that keep Latinos from obtaining preventative health services. One barrier that is rapidly becoming a problem in California (38.18% Latino population) is the disturbing lack of Latino healthcare professionals. One program is looking to change that. The University of California – Davis has partnered with the Permanente Medical Group to create the Prep Médico program, which offers health courses, lectures, and shadowing opportunities to low-income freshman and sophomore students from Central and Northern California who can ...
More than 10 million Americans, including higher rates of Latinos, excessively drink alcohol to the point it negatively impacts their lives. Now, new research links alcohol abuse to a big cause of death: heart disease. Abusing alcohol increases the likelihood of suffering atrial fibrillation, heart attack or congestive heart failure, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, CNN reports. “One of the most surprising findings... is that people who abused alcohol are at increased risk for heart attack or myocardial infarction,” said Dr. Gregory M. Marcus, director of clinical research in the Division of Cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco and senior author of the study. “Past data suggests that moderate drinking ...
Infant nutrition experts Norma Sifuentes and Diana Montano have promoted breastfeeding for 30 years combined in San Antonio, Texas (63.2% Latino). The two women, employees of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District’s Women, Infants and Children (SAMHD-WIC) department, know that breastfeeding duration rates are low here. Less breastfeeding means more risk of obesity, diabetes, and lower IQs. So Sifuentes and Montano worked together to create a place—a haven—to help low-income Latina and all mothers access breastfeeding support and peer counseling.
Why isn't breastfeeding more prominent?
The benefits of breastfeeding are numerous. For babies, it reduces risk of infectious diseases, asthma, atopic dermatitis, childhood leukemia, diabetes, obesity and sudden infant ...
Metro areas are more dangerous for pedestrians, especially Latinos and other minorities, than in previous years, according to a new study. The study, Dangerous By Design 2016 by Smart Growth America, found that pedestrians of color, older adults, and low-income metro areas are more likely to die. Pedestrian safety is worsening in largely Latino metro areas like Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Jose and Riverside, Calif., due to issues of policy, design, enforcement, and culture. Latinos, who comprise 16.9% of the U.S. population, account for 21.5% of pedestrian deaths overall. There's more reason for concern, too. Unsafe streets are a major hurdle for people trying to be physically active, stay healthy, or get to school or work. This situation collides (pun ...
In November 2015, the Unicode Consortium approved 51 new emoji's, and breastfeeding is one, according to Forbes. Based on requests and popular demand, the Unicode Consortium decides which emojis will be available for mobile devices, laptops, desktops and wearables. Interventions or policies aimed at improving breastfeeding rates among Latina mothers may be critical to promoting physical and mental health; however, Latina moms often face social, political, environmental, and cultural barriers to reach their own breastfeeding goals. In order to build a culture of health it is critical to support breastfeeding and empower women to live healthier lives. The emoji should be available in 2017. Spread the ...
The Praxis Project, an California advocacy group led by Latino advocate Xavier Morales, filed a legal complaint against Coca-Cola and the American Beverage Association for deceptive marketing practices that push sugary drinks to communities of color. The legal complaint indicates "the world’s largest soft-drink maker and the trade association run ads that tout the energy boost from drinking soda, and disregard scientific findings that sugary beverages can lead to obesity, diabetes and heart problems," according to a CBS News report. The complaint was filed in federal court in California. Both Coca-Cola and the American Beverage Association called the lawsuit as unfounded, and said they are working to lower the public’s sugar consumption, CBS News reports. The Praxis ...
After Nikki Van Strien delivered her first son in Mesa, Ariz. (30.5% Latino), she realized the discharge package given to all new moms by the hospital could undermine a woman’s breastfeeding goals by pushing formula. She wanted to do something to support breastfeeding moms immediately after delivery. In 2011, Van Strien and some other moms developed the AZ Breastfeeding Bag Project to provide all new breastfeeding mothers with a bag filled with educational material and breastfeeding supply samples. They became a non-profit and recruited volunteers and donations to reach new mothers birthing in the hospital, birth center, or home.
Breastfeeding Rates Low in Arizona
Nikki Van Strien, a new mom in Mesa, Ariz., wanted to connect with other moms for support. She joined a local group she ...
