According to a recent article, a 2014 study from Stanford University estimated that restricting sugary beverages from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) may help reduce type 2 diabetes and obesity among Americans receiving the SNAP benefits, keeping as many as 141,000 children and 281,000 adults from becoming obese. Physician Phil Roe is ready to help this happen and has filed a bill that would bar SNAP recipients from using their benefits to buy sodas, energy drinks, candy and other junk foods. After reading a letter from a mother being upset that her Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, (WIC) benefits didn't cover her two 12 liter soda bottles of Mountain dew, Roe told local news that he doesn't care what people buy, but stated ...
Water is one of the fundamental building blocks of life itself. It surrounds us on an everyday basis. However, despite it being everywhere in this country, many people still don’t realize how essential it is to good health and a quality life. What are the health benefits of water that you need to know? Let’s use #SaludTues on May 3, 2016, to tweet information and resources on Water: WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Water: The Health Benefits You Should Know”
DATE: Tuesday, May 3, 2016
TIME: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT)
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues
HOST: @SaludToday CO-HOSTS: Campaign for Dental Health (@ILikeMyTeeth), Delta Dental Colorado (@DeltaDentalCo), URH20 (@URH2O) Questions we got via Social Media: What about sports drinks? Are ...
Minnesota is generally considered one of the healthiest states in the country; however, health incomes for the state’s residents vary greatly in terms of race, sexual-orientation, and mental health status, according to the Minnesota Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ed Ehlinger. According to the Minnesota Department of Health’s “Advancing Health Equity” report, which highlighted disparities in health among specific populations, Minnesota’s growing Latino population deal with several critical health disparities. Per the report, Minnesota’s Latino youths have extremely high rates of obesity. American Indian and African American youths also have higher rates that white youths. Also, poverty rates for children under 18 are twice as high for Latino children than for white ...
A study performed by the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute determined the least healthy counties in Texas. The study took into account numerous data sources regarding the health factors of populations, the ratio of dental and mental health care providers to people in the counties, socio-economic data, and unemployment data. Also taken into consideration were the typical length of life and quality of life. Based on the information, Brooks County (91% Latino population), located in the Rio Grande Valley, was deemed the least healthy county in the state. The report determined that 40% of all adults in Brooks County were of “poor health” and the obesity rate among adults was nearly 30%. The county also has an uninsured rate of 25% and 46% of the children in the ...
Obesity, cancer, and other health issues were increasing in the northern Colorado city of Fort Collins (11.43% Latino). In response, a community leadership group called Vida Sana formed to find ways to alleviate these issues and support residents. Dierdre Sullivan, a founding member of Vida Sana, soon recognized the best way to boost health was to use promotoras (community health workers) to teach residents how to help themselves.
People struggle with health issues in Colorado
Dierdre Sullivan, an activist in Fort Collins, Colo., has witnessed the local Latino population grow rapidly by 52% from 2000 to 2010. Sullivan said health issues increased rapidly, too. Many people here live in poverty. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, mental health, and other health issues related to ...
Are you wearing green? Today is St. Patrick’s Day most commonly known among Latinos as the Irish 5 de Mayo. Here are three ways you can celebrate in a healthy way:
1. Drink a Licuado Verde (Green Smoothie)
This green smoothie packs vitamins and proteins that will give you an energy boost! Watch San Antonio-based celebrity Chef Johnny Hernandez demonstrate the recipe. https://youtu.be/4SzD8YVkxp4
2. Jog
Lace up your tennis shoes and go for an evening jog around your neighborhood. A 20-minute jog will give you the right amount of boost to get you through your day like a champ!
3. Dance
Play your favorite salsa/merengue tunes. Research has shown that dancing not only is good for your physical health but also for your mental health. Happy St. Patrick’s ...
This is part of our Latina Mom and Baby Health: A Research Review »
Benefits of breastfeeding
The benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby are well established in the literature, and yet breastfeeding rates in the United States remain below desired levels.38,39 According to recommendations from The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), mothers should exclusively breastfeed their infants for at least the first 6 months of life, with continuation for 1 year or longer. In addition, breastfeeding infants should not receive supplemental formula unless advised by a health care professional.39,40 As part of the Healthy People 2020 initiative, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services outlined several ...
This is part of our Food and Latino Kids: A Research Review » Increased access to healthy foods in low-income neighborhoods does not necessarily ensure that it will lead to improvements in residents’ diets.
Some studies some no affect on dietary improvement
Two studies of low-income neighborhoods that have reported findings without sub-analyses have shown that increased access to healthy foods does not affect diet quality in low-income neighborhoods. A national study using longitudinal data observed that proximity to a supermarket was not related to diet quality in low-income young to middle-aged adult populations.27 In addition, the first controlled (one intervention neighborhood and one comparison neighborhood), longitudinal study of a PFFFI-funded project found that exposure ...
This is part of our Food and Latino Kids: A Research Review »
Many people face financial challenges to healthy eating
Focus groups of Latino mothers have revealed that the most significant barrier to establishing healthy eating habits for their children is financial constraint.82 Many Latino families experience intermittent or chronic food insecurity; however, food is usually given the highest priority. Because of financial constraints, lower-income Latino mothers’ food purchases are driven almost exclusively by price.83 Mothers have expressed that they commonly travel to several different locations to purchase specific items at the lowest prices available.82 These practices demonstrate that Latino mothers’ desire to provide healthy meals for their families and protect ...
