W.O.W.!! Working on Wellness
Helping Hispanic Families Stay Fit
Throughout
the years, we as a Hispanic ethnic group have become increasingly overweight and very unhealthy.
Working out and eating healthy are some ways that we can change all of this. It is not stressed enough throughout our culture that these things are important factors for a healthy life.
Many things are possible if you eat healthy and workout (teens an hour daily and adults 30 minutes), such as helping prevent cancer and other diseases. It is a proven fact that 30% to 45% of cancer is caused by unhealthy eating habits and a lack of physical activity.
How to Be Physically Fit
As a teen it is recommended that we work out for at least one hour a day and that adults work out for half
an hour. We need to have a mix of physical activities so that we stay interested in being fit. There are many
different things we can do such as:
- Running
- Cycling
- Walking
- Weight lifting
- Playing different sports
Eating Healthy
Since some of the Hispanic culture has a list of foods such as eating beans, rice and corn tortillas nearly every day, we are known to have lard in our pantries instead of olive oil when we should be using the nonstick spray.
As a family in whole, we tend to be more family oriented. For example, going to the grocery store, gathering around the table every day, and sitting in the kitchen talking when we really should go outside and take a walk together.
Most of these things that are listed are basically what we need to change about our eating habits. For example, instead of using lard to cook our food, we should be using nonstick spray. We also need to exercise after a meal.
That we we can reduce the high risk of becoming obese, being bombarded with heart problems and type 2 diabetes, which can lead to an unhealthy life.
Simply eating the healthy way can decrease the chance of developing problems.
It is important that we take care of our inner and outer self. Eating healthy and exercising regularly are great ways to be healthy people both inside and out. The importance of continuing what you start cannot be stressed enough in our culture.
As they have said before, “We are what we eat.” So think back on what you have eaten and how much. Do you really want to be what you have consumed? Probably not.
Working out will help but only if you do it the right way. Together with both diet and exercise you can become a better you and you will be unique instead of just another statistic.
Get Movin’!
This has been brought to you by:
Starr County~H.O.P.E.~(Helping Other People Excel)
Some pages on this website are created and maintained by kids—members of Texas 4-H.