Archive Nut, Prune and Olive Programs

What do blowing bubbles, dancing to the radio, and playing soccer have in common? They are all fun ways to be physically active as a family. Being active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

The weight loss industry is a multi-billion dollar business. The goal of these companies is to make money. Unethical companies will use any gimmick or promise to sell their products. Many weight loss products are not regulated by the government and may even be harmful.

Loosing weight is easier if you use all pieces of the weight loss puzzle: Reduced portion sizes, limited snacking, eating more fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of fluids and exercising. Many people fail to add activity to their daily routines when trying to lose weight.

Every hour that children spend watching TV they see 21 commercials. For many kids, that's 40,000 commercials a yearand most of them are for foods that are not healthy. Young children don't understand the goal of advertising, so they are more vulnerable to the messages.

Diabetes is an illness that can damage many of the body's organs and reduce lifespan by 10 to 15 years. Your symptoms can be so subtle that you can have the condition for years without knowing it. For this reason it is important to request a screening test.

Diabetes is an illness that can cause serious health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, blindness and amputations. There are three principal types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce insulin or produces very little.

The principal risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes are overweight, inactivity, advanced age and genetic predisposition. In adults, obesity is the principal risk factor, especially if the weight is carried around the waist.

Diabetes is a real threat to the Latino community. The best way to cope with the threat is being well informed. With timely and adequate intervention it is possible to reduce the risk of developing diabetes and prevent its complications.

Twenty years ago, the majority of diabetes cases among children and adolescents was Type 1. But the growing incidence of juvenile obesity has caused an increase in the number of cases of Type 2 diabetes among children.

Many Latinos in the United States believe common myths about diabetes. Some believe that it can be caused by an emotional shock, a fright or the trauma of immigration.