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, ...
What is your New Year’s Resolution? One of the most popular resolutions is engaging in more physical activity. Moving matters for your health in many ways, so it’s no wonder that increasing physical activity makes it to the top of the goal list for many people every year. However, being more physically active is easier said than done. Let’s explore some of the health benefits of physical activity and go over some ways to keep you motivated throughout the year.
Physical Activity Benefits Against Cancer
There is a slew of reasons that exercise is good for ... well, everything. Countless studies have shown that getting your recommended weekly exercise can greatly reduce your risk for at least eight types of cancer, including bladder, breast, colon, ...
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.
Smoking and Life Expectancy
In the UK, ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Obesity and Cancer: What We Know Now About Individual and Other Factors
Dr. Monica C. Serra is Associate Professor and Research Health Scientist in the Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology & Palliative Medicine and the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA). Obesity and cancer Dr. Serra began by discussing obesity and severe obesity, which have become more common in the US in recent years. In 2011, 27% of adults 18 years of age or older had obesity or severe obesity, and by 2020, 32% of adults 18 years of age or older had obesity or severe obesity. Furthermore, in ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Using Science to Address Latino Health Disparities Research
Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, M.D., is Director of NIMHD at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This plenary session occurred at 8:30 am., Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at the 4th biennial Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference. Health differences Dr. Pérez-Stable began his presentation by discussing populations with health differences. While background along with social and economic factors are the fundamental pillars of health differences science, the intersection of these factors with rural populations, other overlooked groups, and people with physical or mental challenges are also important to ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Designing Food Pantries to Improve Food Security Among Cancer Survivors
Dr. Sandi Pruitt is Associate Professor and Associate Director of Community Outreach, Engagement, and More in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Crossroads Community Services. Food security and cancer Dr. Sandi Pruitt’s presentation discussed food security and cancer, best practices and solutions, and a Dallas pantry redesign. The gold standard for measuring food security is the validated US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) survey, which is offered in 6, 10, and 18 question ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Advances in Evidence-based Digital Solutions for Supporting Latino Cancer Patients
Dr. John Piette is Professor in the School of Public Health, and Director of the Center for Managing Chronic Disease (CMCD) at the University of Michigan. Cognitive behavioral therapy Dr. Piette’s presentation began by discussing how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be used for Latino cancer patients. CBT is the most common evidence-based intervention for cancer patients struggling with mental health, symptoms, stress, and sleep. In cancer patients, CBT has been shown to help manage distress and pain, alleviate insomnia, manage fear of cancer recurrence, and reduce emotional distress and ...
You don’t have to stop smoking in one day. Start with Day 1. On Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, you can join thousands of people who will begin their smoke-free journey with the Great American Smokeout. This annual event from the American Cancer Society encourages smokers to make a plan to stop smoking. Need help? Enroll in Quitxt, a free English or Spanish text-message service that turns your phone into a personal “quit smoking” coach from UT Health San Antonio. To join Quitxt, text “iquit” (for English) or “lodejo” (for Spanish) to 844-332-2058. “For the Great American Smokeout, we’re excited to share Quitxt to provide real-time help with motivation to quit, setting a quit date, handling stress, and much more, all on your phone,” said Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, ...
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 overlooked people – often suffer most because they suffer from health gaps, 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 ...
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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