Re-Inventing the 21st Century Healthy Latina
11/03/2015 06:00AM | 7219 views
By Ada Mariela Ortega
Latinas have come a long way from the assumptions that being a great cocinera (cook) doesn’t necessarily mean they are unhealthy. However, as the female population grows in the United States, so does the number of Latinas who are at a much higher risk in comparison to other ethnic groups, of developing chronic diseases simply because they live a sedentary lifestyle. Diabetes is just one of the many complications that manifest more commonly amongst today’s Latinas.
According to The State of Diabetes Among Hispanics report, released by the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (NAHH), the estimated lifetime risk for developing diabetes is higher for Hispanic women than for non-Hispanic white women.
Sylvia Meléndez-Klinger, a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer believes that a little planning can go a long way. As the founder of Hispanic Food Communications, a food communications and culinary consulting company based in Hinsdale, Illinois, she uses some of the most basic strategies as a way to promote a health-conscious lifestyle among the Hispanic population. “Little things such as planning your meals one week ahead can be life changing,” says Meléndez-Klinger. “Us Latinas have so much on our plate that when we get to the grocery store, our mind goes blank and we go for the easy, and many times unhealthy meals.”
Adult Latinas are no longer the only age group being currently predisposed to diabetes. According to the report Latinas born in the year 2000 have a 52.5 percent risk of developing diabetes in their lifetime compared with a 31.2 percent risk among non-Hispanic white women.
As the mother of a millennial Latina, Meléndez-Klinger stresses the importance of teaching portion control to children at a young age by noting that “ever since my daughter was a young girl, I have always encouraged her to measure her servings and actually enjoy her food, versus engulfing everything.”
The Psychological Side of Staying Healthy
A healthy lifestyle however, does not only consist of healthy eating habits and staying active. For President of Nutrition in Motion PC, Registered Dietitian and Board Certified Sports Nutritionist Cristina Rivera, the psychological aspect of staying healthy is as important as eating right and exercising. “When you start making lifestyle changes, staying positive despite the physical challenges can give you the best results,” says Rivera. “Latinas tend to invest so much of their time on others that at the end of the day they not only feel physically exhausted, but also emotionally drained.”
Rivera, who also serves as a consultant to companies in the food and beverage industry such as Coca–Cola Co., Kellogg’s, The National Fisheries Institute, to name a few, encourages her patients to get rid of all the negative connotations that come with doing exercise. “Some people don’t like going to the gym because they see it as a chore, rather as something recreational that will have a positive end result.”
Sharing Healthy Tips with Family and Friends
Celebrity Chef and TV host Maggie Jimenez knows that a healthy mind is a healthy body. A former model and now cooking aficionada, Jimenez is a great example of a Latina who embraces her many talents. As the face of the #EchaleChallenge, a new nation-wide program that motivates and inspires Latina moms and families to be more active and eat healthier, Jimenez shares tips, recipes, and advice for a healthier lifestyle from her own personal experiences. “For me, family time usually involves my two daughters standing beside me while I cook and they ask me questions,” notes Jimenez. “This is a great way to bond with your children and at the same time teach them healthy habits that will stay with them for a long time.”
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