December 3, 1999
Let medicine be your food
and food your medicine
(Hippochrates)
"To gain weight" is a verb that lends a bitter taste to the turkey, the bread, biscochos and so many delicacies that are made precisely to celebrate the end of year holidays. Nevertheless, it seems that the "weight" of the word disappears with the first aroma that comes from the family kitchen. Year after year we give ourselves up to the tastes and colors of the season. But, after the taste come distasteful things.
That is to say, when the parties are gone, after eating delights, and when shirt buttons are about to burst, what weighs on your conscience is every bit of those undesirable extra pounds. But if only that heaviness was necessary to lose weight or at least stay in shape, obesity and its consequences would not be worrisome.
The Hispanic community is one of the most affected by the illness of obesity. According to authorities on health, a large part of Hispanic adults weighs more than he or she should. More than half of Latina women suffers from being overweight. Even worse, in the last decade, the index of obesity has risen more than for any other racial group. Unfortunately, our community is also affected by heart problems, hypertension, gout, sleep apnea, and, one of the most fatal that is linked to being overweight, diabetes.
Factors that lead to being overweight may be innumerable but they can be summarized in two principals. We don't watch what we eat and our physical activity is less and less.
About foods, having the queen of fast food at our feet, there is nothing more practical at lunchtime than to opt for a hamburger, a slice of pizza, and a carbonated drink that has some 12 teaspoons of sugar.
If we don't even have to get out of the car to buy our hamburger, it's really easy to explain our physical inactivity. Even at home, the remote control and electric appliances contribute to the fact that we continue to store bad calories in our organism.
There are also similar remedies for a fast, modern lifestyle. The pharmaceutical industry presents a miracle pill every year that will be in charge of burning all of those accumulated calories. Likewise, we hear about the miracle diet of Doctor So-and-So everywhere, which will give us marvelous results, without flagellation, without cutting out fats or sugars. Magical creams also appear, that promise to make fat disappear with simple body massages.
Millions of dollars come out of the pockets of those who are looking for a quick solution to being overweight every year. Even though some of these products and diets are "miraculously" effective, they can also be scams, exaggerations or they may be accompanied by a complex manual that the consumer sometimes avoids reading, and by side effects that can increase illnesses.
Until now, nutrition experts agree that there is only one miraculous prescription: an adequate, healthy diet and moderate physical activity. It seems simple, but according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the victim of being overweight tends to overlook things.
Federal agencies, worried about the volume of inhabitants, periodically alert people through public announcements and awareness campaigns, simplifying nutrition guidelines at the same time that they demand that food companies inform consumers about their products. This way we can see a colorful nutrition table even on the tiny wrapper of chewing gum.
The solution is in our hands: if we feel that our weight is reaching a critical level and is going against our general health, it is important to take measures. Our discipline is the only thing that will help us achieve our objective of losing weight.
Do you know how to choose food? The food pyramid is perhaps the first step to consider. Designed by the Department of Agriculture, the pyramid consists of five food main groups and a sixth miscellaneous one. The base of the pyramid is made up of carbohydrates. That is, bread, cereal, rice and pasta; followed by fruits and vegetables. In lessening amounts, continue proteins-red and white meat, and dairy products. At the tip of the pyramid are sugars and oils; what our body needs least to live. Problems with food come up when the order of the pyramid is inverted. If the pyramid has been ignored until now, for the good of your health, it is important to put it into practice.
With respect to exercise. Only 30 minutes of exercise daily might contribute to a healthy heart and perhaps and ideal figure. The most reasonable thing to do is to go to a specialist, get a medical check-up and get a plan that helps us show off an agreeable silhouette without putting our health at risk.
Modifying our eating habits and our physical activity could change our lives, significantly, for the better. Only in this way can we enjoy the parties, the varied menu that our pueblos have and finally feel good with ourselves, not only at this time of year, but for our whole lives.
Do you want to know more about which foods to choose? The Hispanic Network can help you, call us today, toll free at 1-888-SU-RADIO, 1-888-787-2346.
Return
to Frontpage