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Pediatrician Vanessa Salcedo, M. D. learned early through her career the dangerous health risks linked to sugary beverages, like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Many Latinos in New Yorks Bronx area (17.6%), deal with health problems like high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
While in residency Salcedo choose to stop drinking sugary beverages like soda to be an example to her patients, and now the clinic has become a sugary drinks-free zone.
Salcedo explained to the American Heart Association, that the patients rely on her and the other doctors, and they all wanted to be role models in creating a healthy place, free of sugary drinks.
The doctors at Union Community Heath Center’s six clinics discuss sugar content in drinks to their patients, encouraging them to drink more water and showing them how much sugar is in drinks by giving them sugar packets to visualize the high amounts of sugar content in each sugary beverage. They also go on to explain the dangers of the high sugar content in sodas, that can lead to cavities, liver disease, and more chronic health risks.
Studies show Latino kids ages 0-5 consume more sugary drinks than their white peers. Pediatricians and doctors like Salcedo can help lead the way with healthy examples and may help Latino families see the healthy choice from the start, ensuring life-long healthy habits for kids and families.
By The Numbers
1
Supermarket
for every Latino neighborhood, compared to 3 for every non-Latino neighborhood
