Cancer Experts: Coffee Doesn’t Cause Cancer, Drinking it Hot Might



For millions of Latinos having a cup of cafecito (coffee) every morning is an important part of their routine, but drinking it too hot may cause cancer according to cancer experts, CNN reports. In a recent review, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) confirmed coffee may not cause cancer but they warn drinking it at temperatures above 150-160 Fahrenheit (typical in Latino culture) may cause the disease. "The Working Group noted that the epidemiological evidence for very hot beverages and human cancer has strengthened over time,” the report ...

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Study: Ads May Be Tempting Teens to Vape



Teens who have been exposed to electronic cigarette ads in the last 30 days are more likely to start vaping, according to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Engadget reports. "The unrestricted marketing of e-cigarettes and dramatic increases in their use by youth could reverse decades of progress in preventing tobacco use among youth," Brian King, deputy director at the CDC's smoking division, said in a statement. The data comes from the CDC's 2014 National Tobacco Survey that looked into the habits of more than 20,000 middle and high school students from across the country and found that the number of E-cigs users is increasing among teenagers. Along with their findings the CDC recommends “limiting e-cig sales to stores that only admit adults, ...

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Study: Half of What We Eat is Junk Food



A new study reveals that a whopping 60% of what we eat in the U.S. is considered "junk food" loaded with fat, salt, and sugar that we’re not supposed to eat, NBC Health reports. The study reports that this is evidence of why two-thirds of Americans and why 60% of Latinos in the U.S. are overweight or obese. "The most common ultra-processed foods in terms of energy contribution were breads, soft drinks, fruit drinks, and milk-based drinks; cakes, cookies, and pies; salty snacks; frozen and shelf-stable plates; pizza and breakfast cereals," Dr. Carlos Augusto Monteiro of the University of São Paulo and colleagues there, and at Tufts University in Boston, wrote in their report. The study found that just under 650 calories of the average 2,000 calorie-a-day-diet were from fruits ...

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“Cold Turkey” Best Way to Quit Smoking, Study Finds



If you want to quit smoking, it is better to quit all at once, NBC Health reports. A study by Oxford University “randomly assigned almost 700 adult smokers to either an abrupt quitting or gradual reduction group. Each person set a 'quit day' of two weeks after they entered the study, and saw a research nurse once a week until then.” After 4 weeks of tracking 700 adults, researchers found that 40% of the gradual group were not smoking compared to 49% of the abrupt quit group. "However, with smoking, the norm is to advise people to stop all at once and our study found evidence to support that," Nicola Lindson-Hawley, lead study author told Reuters Health by email. "What we found was that more people managed to quit when they stopped smoking all in one go than when they gradually ...

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3 Ways to Boost Your Health



If you’re like many parents, you probably don’t have enough time to go to the gym every day. Being a parent can be hectic—especially when you have to juggle work, children, and family. What can you do to stay healthy without spending hundreds of hours at the gym every week? Exercise Doctors recommend exercising your heart at least 30 minutes a day to stay in optimal health conditions. For example, you can walk during lunch time, run/jog in place while you watch your favorite novela, or go bicycle riding with your children to the nearest park. Eat Healthy Mom was right, we are what we eat. Stop eating foods high in saturated fats, salt, and cholesterol. Replace junk food with fruits, vegetables, and plenty of water. Meditate Plenty of studies have proven that ...

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1 in 3 Americans Don’t Get Enough Sleep


hispanic sleeping lady tired clock

On average, Americans are not getting enough sleep according to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study found that, on average, over 60% of Latinos ages 18 to 60 get the recommended hours of sleep compared to Whites (67%) and African Americans (54%). “As a nation we are not getting enough sleep,” said Dr. Wayne Giles, director of CDC’s Division of Population Health. According to the CDC, sleeping less than 7 hours each day is associated with an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, and mental distress. “Lifestyle changes such as going to bed at the same time each night; rising at the same time each morning; and turning off or removing televisions, computers, mobile devices from the bedroom, can help ...

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Study: Children with Step-Siblings Are More Likely to Be Aggressive



Children with step or half siblings are more likely to behave aggressively towards other children (over 30% of Latino children are in complex family situations), Latinos Health reports. Researchers at the University of Michigan studied over 6,000 young children (under 5) and asked the biological mother of each child “about frequency of things such as temper tantrums, physical aggression, shows of anger, and destruction of personal property.” The study concluded that when children live in complex family situations they tend to be 10% more aggressive towards other children than their peers who don’t’ live with half or step siblings. “While this link does not establish causation, the findings add nuance to the prior scientific conversation on family and development, which ...

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Malnutrition is a Hidden Epidemic among Elderly Latinos



More than a quarter of the country’s senior citizens are hungry or at nutritional risk, New America Media reports. Researchers at the Gerontological Society of America determined that two-thirds of older, hospitalized patients are poorly nourished. Malnutrition is especially challenging for individuals older than 65 as it can trigger or worsen chronic diseases. Poor nutrition may increase the chances of infection, delay normal healing and result in longer hospital stays. Malnutrition among Latino elders is a greater crisis as they tend to be among the fiscally poorer. “Malnutrition literally means ‘bad’ nutrition,” said Lauri M. Wright, a researcher and nutritionist from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “A big issue for our senior population is the lack of ...

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New Dietary Guidelines Released



Updated federal dietary guidelines suggest Americans should consume less sugar, fat and salt and more vegetables and whole grains, The Wall Street Journal reports. The guidelines, which are updated every five years recommend a “healthy eating pattern” with conscious decisions about what we drink and eat. “By focusing on small shifts in what we eat and drink, eating healthy becomes more manageable,” Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia M. Burwell said. The guidelines suggest Americans should consume: A variety of vegetables, including dark green, red and orange, legumes (beans and peas), starchy and other vegetables Fruits, especially whole fruits Grains, at least half of which are whole grains Fat-free or low-fat dairy, including milk, yogurt, cheese, ...

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